LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The work of hospitality leader, education champion and philanthropist Elaine Wynn continues across the Las Vegas Valley as community leaders continue to make her dream a reality: a Las Vegas Museum of Art.
Las Vegas is the only metropolitan area among the top 30 U.S. cities without a standalone art museum, according to the museum’s executive director.
The future museum will be on 1.5 acres in Symphony Park, surrounded by The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Discovery Children’s Museum.
“Elaine wanted to spearhead and marshal one last significant gift to the community, and that gift was to be the future Las Vegas Museum of Art. She was such an advocate, and this was such a strong part of her vision,” said executive director Heather Harmon.
The City of Las Vegas gifted the land for the cause.
In a September presentation to the Las Vegas City Council, Wynn explained the transformative power of art spaces for communities.
“They create the most important thing of all: they create community. They create a sense of community, a place where we all can belong…it’s this concept, creating more community, that’s inspired me to marshal one last effort of leadership to show my gratitude to the city I love that’s given all of us so much,” Wynn said.
$150 million for the project will be funded by grants, gifts and donations, according to the presentation.
The museum will partner with the West Coast’s largest art museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where Wynn served as co-chair. The Las Vegas Museum of Art can borrow pieces and share exhibits from the LACMA.
Wynn helped bring the art world’s focus to Las Vegas with the creation of the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, showcasing world-renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol.
“Elaine was a tremendous leader and advocate not only for the arts, but for our community. She had such an incredible way of touching and lifting and bringing up everyone around her. It was a really people-and-community forward approach, and we all feel a great responsibility in carrying forward,” Harmon said.
Harmon said there are forthcoming announcements for the fundraising campaign.
Groundbreaking is set for March 2027, according to city officials.
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