The Museum of Arts and Science (MOAS) in Daytona Beach is soon to undergo a massive transformation, following an enormous donation of $150 million. The contribution is coming from Cici and Hyatt Brown, the latter of whom is the former CEO of Brown & Brown Insurance. As such, the facility will be renamed ‘The Brown’.
The most momentous transformation to come from the Browns’ donation will be an entirely new facility built in place of the current museum. In three years, the Museum of Arts and Science will be demolished to be replaced by a new, 90,000-square-foot building. It will take its place next to the currently-existing Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art and a new 8,000-square-foot building containing a lobby, grand hall, and event area.
“If I walked up to this new museum and saw it for the first time…wow, it’s breathtaking,” Cici Brown said. “I think people are going to be blown away when they see what this is going to be and how it’s going to fit into our community.”
Though the touted donation is $150 million from the Browns, half of that sum is contingent. $75 million is guaranteed, while the other $75 million is contingent on community contributions totaling $25 million. The Browns have pledged to match those contributions by a 3-1 ratio, bringing the total amount raised to $175 million.
“This is a transformation for the institution as a whole,” added MOAS CEO Tabitha Schmidt. “It’s not just a physical change, it’s a philosophical change. It’s changing us in the community. It’s changing our reach and our impact.”
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everybody in this community to rally behind The Brown and make this one of the most successful museums in the Southeast,” added MOAS Chair Andy Watts.
Full details about the upcoming transformation are available at the project’s official website.
