Summary:
Located in a former Nabisco box-printing factory, Dia Beacon is a modern art museum that presents a collection of art from the 1960s to the present, showcasing special exhibitions, and hosting public programs. The museum opened in 2003, and the historic steel, concrete, and glass factory building, with more than 34,000 square feet of skylights and broad spans between supporting columns, allows for excellent conditions for viewing and showcasing contemporary art. Dia Arts Foundation, incepted in 1974 by German art dealer Heiner Friedrich, curator Helen Winkler, and oil heiress/art patron Philippa de Menil, came together with the common goal of funding the creation of modern art. Dia Beacon was established to expand on the organization’s goal and enhance space for conveying minimalist art and artists. The museum has a total economic impact of $12,460,337 annually on Dutchess County’s local economy, affecting sectors such as real estate, electric power generation, offices (physicians/dentists), and food services, and supporting 167 jobs through 65,000 visitors each year. The Dia Art Foundation controls key aspects of the site, including funding, tenancy, and land, having acquired the site in 1999.

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