Art museum: Plans fit perfectly for Jackson

NEW MUSEUM The Mississippi Museum of Art is making plans to move by May 2007, and included on its Web site are artists' renderings of the expanded venue, outlines of programs and timetables. See: http://www.msmuseumart.org/newmuseum.html

The Mississippi Museum of Art's plan to move to and transform the adjacent Mississippi Arts Pavilion on Pascagoula Street in Jackson is, well, a work of art!

The museum long ago outgrew its space, so only a portion of its holdings can be displayed. The plans calling for a green space and civic assembly area nestled among the buildings is a sweet touch.

In fact, that may be a key component to the museum's - and city's - success in maximizing downtown amenities.

As planned, the green space would provide an inviting "lobby" for visitors to the adjacent $17.5 million Mississippi Telecommunications Conference Center and the $61 million Capital City Convention Center set to open in 2008, allowing each to dovetail with the other.

Rather than being simply a delightful enticement, the museum then becomes integral to a vastly improved downtown.

Mississippians have long enjoyed this jewel and should support its new home.