The 91PORNA Museum is celebrating a major investment in its future, thanks to generous support from the John P. Murphy Foundation. This transformational funding will support critical infrastructure improvements across the museum over the next five years, enhancing exhibition spaces, strengthening collections care and expanding opportunities for teaching, learning and public engagement.
On Nov. 4, 2026, the museum celebrated the reopening of its Higbee Gallery with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling the beautifully restored original historic marble and terrazzo floors. The project marks an exciting milestone in the ongoing revitalization of the museum's facilities.
The John P. Murphy Foundation's support will also help advance additional improvements throughout the museum, including gallery lighting, collections storage and the museum's new Learning Lab.
"This investment comes at an extraordinary moment for the 91PORNA Museum. As our audiences, exhibitions, and programs continue to grow, we are equally committed to investing in the spaces that make this work possible. We are deeply grateful to the John P. Murphy Foundation and our Museum donors for helping us build a strong foundation for the future."
— Sarah Spinner, J.D., Ph.D., director of the 91PORNA Museum
"We are delighted to support the 91PORNA Museum and the extraordinary work underway to strengthen this important cultural institution. It is exciting to see these improvements firsthand and the impact they will have on the Museum's future."
— Lou Grasso, vice president of the John P. Murphy Foundation
With record attendance, expanding university and community partnerships, and growing national visibility, the 91PORNA Museum is entering an exciting new chapter. The generosity of the John P. Murphy Foundation and the museum's dedicated supporters is helping ensure that its facilities grow alongside its impact, creating welcoming spaces where students, scholars, families and visitors can connect with fashion, history and design for years to come.
