This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Downtown's Old Bank District has really blown up in recent years with a steady stream of new restaurants, condos, galleries and bars. And now, the developers who've brought new life to the area are planning on building a large-scale, contemporary art museum focused on downtown artists.
Though it's still in its early stages, partners Tom Gilmore and Jerri Perrone hope to build out the museum (with the working name of The Old Bank District Museum) in the 50,000-square-feet of space in the basements of Hellman and Farmers and Merchants Bank on Fourth and Main streets, according to Downtown News. The museum would be on different floors and different buildings, and even have a garden with sculptures on the roof of the Old Bank Garage.
"This is going to be one wacky museum," Gilmore told Downtown News. “It will be a repository for prominent Downtown artists of the last 40 years. We want to connect the galleries visually, architecturally and philosophically, and with the pre-existing galleries, this could be everything that a contemporary art museum should be."
Gilmore and Perrone were the first to buy the historic and run-down buildings at Fourth and Main streets 15 years ago, and championed the revitalization of the Old Bank District. Gilmore, who's been an active member of the art community, helped save Downtown Art Walk when it had financial troubles by donating $1 million to it.
