George Lucas has broken ground on his $1.5 billion-dollar Museum of Narrative Art. George Lucas was part of a ground-breaking ceremony held the site of the future museum in Los Angeles’ Exposition, which is expected to be completed in four years.
Lucas delivered a passionate speech before a crowd of elected officials and distinguished guests including Steven Spielberg. Lucas acknowledged that it is an art museum, but he wants people to see it as an anthropological museum. George Lucas said that popular art tells us what a society aspires to be and what they want and who they truly are.
It’s a narrative story of their lives and beliefs.
George Lucas' art museum to be built in Los Angeles
Last year legendary film director George Lucas announced that Los Angeles would be the location for the new museum. Lucas said that he chose Los Angeles and Exposition Park because of its relative closeness to his alma mater the University of Southern California and hundreds of local high schools. The property can also be easily accessed by public transportation.
And the shovels are in! George Lucas, Mellody Hobson, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and the entire Lucas Museum team have officially launched construction in Exposition Park. pic.twitter.com/sNla299ZLn
— Christi Carras (@christi_anne96) March 14, 2018
According to ABC 7, this new revolutionary museum will be 300,000 square feet and will display dozens of collections and pieces from famous artists including David Hockney and Norman Rockwell.
The museum will also display Star Wars memorabilia as well as illustrations from children’s books. During the ceremony, George Lucas was able to expand on where he got the inspiration for the museum.
George Lucas said that narrative art has begun to be lost in the modern city and he wants to support all the art that everyone loves but doesn’t see.
New renderings of the futuristic-looking museum were released at the ceremony. The museum is being designed by popular Chinese architect Ma Yansong. The renderings gave a glimpse into the inside of the museum as well as the landscape.
Thrilled to join Mellody Hobson and George Lucas for the groundbreaking of the @LucasMuseum of Narrative Art, a $1 billion investment in our city that will inspire generations of Angelenos! pic.twitter.com/vzRYGchT2V
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) March 14, 2018
Los Angeles welcomed the new museum
Lucas had also previously attempted to locate the museum in Chicago and San Francisco but both communities strongly opposed the plans.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was ready and willing to help make Lucas’ dream a reality. Garcetti at the ceremony even welcomed Lucas into Los Angeles and said that "this is a city you belong in." The museum received an endowment of nearly $400 million, becoming one of the largest private gifts given to a city in history. Garcetti also thanked George Lucas for his vision, which he says will inspire visitors from all over the world. This museum will breathe new life into Exposition Park.
