Interview with Rene D'Harnoncourt, Museum of Modern Art Director

Dr. E.W. Doty interviews Rene D'Harnoncourt, Director of the Museum of Modern Art about the completion of a $25 million building expansion, completed in 1964 and designed by Philip Johnson. He gives a historical overview of the museum from its beginnings in 1929 in rented rooms located in the Heckscher building. As the men look at photographs and designs, they discuss funding, increased space for exhibitions and public administrative services and the 1963 acquisition of the adjacent Whitney Museum Building.

They also discuss MoMA's collection policy as Doty presses D'Harnoncourt to define Modern Art, specifically mentioning a recent Op Art exhibition. D'Harnoncourt also mentions an art lending service, which provides members with the opportunity to house new work by contemporary artists with the goal of spurring an artist's success in the market.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 150935
Municipal archives id: T716