Featuring new galleries, café and shop, the world’s largest Shakespeare collection is set to re-open in June following a four-year renovation.
Timed perfectly with the celebration of Shakespeare’s 460th birthday anniversary on 23 April and National Poetry Month, the Folger’s Shakespeare Library invites the world to journey through time, blending the rich tapestry of Elizabethan heritage with contemporary relevance.
The Folger’s 1932 building is undergoing an $80.5M renovation to expand public space, improve accessibility and enhance the experience for visitors. The renovation project will add a 12,000sq ft public pavilion under the Folger’s front lawn with fully accessible entry plazas for all visitors on both the east- and west-facing sides of the building. The landscaped entry plazas will connect with walkable gardens on either side of the building.
Its inaugural permanent exhibition will showcase the library’s 82-copy collection of First Folios, the first published copies of Shakespeare’s works. Produced in 1623, the books represented the first time that roughly half of the Bard’s plays appeared in print; Folger’s collection of copies is the largest in the world. When the Folger reopens on 21 June, it will display its entire collection of folios for the first time in a 20ft vault. The Great Hall will transform from an exhibition space to a public gathering place. A new Education Laboratory will provide a flexible space for hands-on demonstrations and interactive workshops. Visitor amenities will include café services in the Great Hall and an expanded gift shop.
