SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The Comic-Con Museum plans to open to the public next summer, revealing a new look at the museum space designed to provide a year-round SDCC experience.
The former San Diego Hall of Champions is still undergoing work to transform its interior into a dedicated space for art, pop culture, and interactive experiences. When finished, the museum plans to have a 25,000-square-feet of space for exhibits, more than 6,000-square-feet of classroom space for hands-on enrichment, and a 4K video theater and presentation space.
The museum says it will also host a year-round schedule of programs and exhibits, like Comic-Con panels, creator meet-and-greets, experiential cinema, watch parties, eSports, cosplay shows, and more.
A cafe featuring items themed off of current exhibits and programs is also planned. The museum will also have a gift shop with comics and graphic novels, souvenirs, and other collectibles.
"The spirit of Comic-Con has always extended beyond the conventions and that’s why we are very excited to be able to capture and share this creative energy in a space that is designed to be participatory, educational and, most of all, fun," David Glanzer, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer for Comic-Con, said. "Comic-Con is about creativity and collaboration and the promotion of often-times unrecognized forms of art. We look forward to the Museum evolving forward with the support of so many people who will benefit from this unique institution."
While Comic-Con and the magic it creates in San Diego every year is at the heart of the museum, a focus on inspiring a passion for art and learning among its visitors will be at the forefront.
"As we move forward, we are pleased to share with greater detail how the Comic-Con Museum is developing to be a place where audiences can connect with the magic of Comic-Con year-round and where a diverse community comes together to enjoy, share and learn about comics and related popular art forms," Melissa Peterman, VP of Development for the museum, said.
The museum says it has reached the half-way mark of its fundraising goal of $34 million. Currently, the museum is offering online programming.
