In the midst of economic torpor that is causing many arts organizations to scramble for survival, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art has received enthusiastic support to launch an expansion project that will double its space.

The Greensburg museum wraps a celebratory 50th anniversary year tomorrow that saw strong attendance at exhibitions and events and broad participation in a design charrette that identified museum strengths and weaknesses.

The Westmoreland also received reaccreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM) this year, a prestigious national designation that a mere 778 of 17,500 eligible museums receive, and Westmoreland director and chief executive officer Judith H. O'Toole was elected to the august Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD).

These are not unrelated occurrences, and are reflective of the Westmoreland's sensitivity to audience and of its progressive programming, which has been heightened under O'Toole's leadership since her arrival in 1993.

"We feel immensely grateful for this year that we've had. We feel we've worked hard to open the museum up and to get our message across to people," O'Toole said. "We've broadened our audience, those who come and those who support."

O'Toole described the response to the charrette as overwhelming, with participants ultimately declaring "absolutely, you need more space."

In the Westmoreland's 2008/2009 annual report, board of trustees president Bruce M. Wolf wrote of charrette results, "We heard the museum is well respected, has an important collection, is a good community partner, and is run by a dedicated and capable staff and board of trustees."

"We also heard that more room is needed for public activities, educational programs, and exhibitions. There is also a need for a greater physical presence. We learned that in addition to being 'The Place for American Art' the community is looking for a place to gather and learn."

Judy Ross, director of marketing and visitor services, explained "We want to be a destination. Maybe [people] come here and just sit on the lawn. They just want to be here as a gathering space."

A study was undertaken to explore the feasibility of raising $27 million to $30 million during an expansion campaign, and the results were encouraging.

About half of the money would be used for building construction, and half for an endowment to support such things as increasing staff to achieve collection and programming goals, O'Toole said.

Westmoreland curator Barbara Jones said the museum is soliciting information packets from a short list of architects and, after reviewing those, will request proposals.

A steering committee and competition jury, including architectural professionals, will pick three finalists to submit fuller presentations, and from those the project architect will be chosen. Bids for construction contracts and fundraising will follow.

If all goes as planned, the finalist designs will be in hand by September. Ideally, the plans will feature phased construction and the museum will stay open throughout. During the last renovation in 1999, the museum was closed for nine months.

O'Toole said that all possibilities are being considered. "The current building is a blank slate, too. The architect will look at the existing building and the new. We're not just sticking a new building onto the old one."

But, she added, that would include interior rather than exterior changes to the Georgian style structure. "We got the message loud and clear that the expansion should respect the current building."

The need to expand has been evident for years, and has been supported by studies that marvel that the museum's ambitious programming is accomplished given its physical and staff size.

"We use every nook and cranny of this museum," Jones said. On her wish list is an open storage area for the folk art collection, similar to what the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has opened for its new American wing, she said.

The space wouldn't be fancy, but would allow the public to see things not ordinarily on display because, for example, of their quality, condition, or that the artist is not comparable to others hanging in the galleries.

She'd also like to have drawers for the 250 frakturs purchased recently for the collection, to make them more available to scholars, and a research study area.

The outreach of the anniversary year created a buzz, from the kickoff New Year's Eve festivities last year to the free admissions to anyone born or married in 1959 (80 visitors) to the free second Thursdays (844 visitors).

The Westmoreland awarded a free membership weekly, and all 52 winners are new members.

The stringent reviewing processes for both AAM accreditation and O'Toole's select AAMD membership further confirm the Westmoreland's quality and add to its transparency. In turn, participation in these organizations spreads the reputation of the museum, drawing visitors and perhaps donors.

All of this is made possible, in part, because of continually increasing national recognition of the importance and heritage of American art, and to the reasoned and respectful guidance the Westmoreland is providing to showcase and appreciate that legacy.

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