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2016 | Doing Business in Connecticut 73 Tourism, Arts & Culture W hile oen overlooked as a "nice-to-have" feature of a com- munity, arts and cultural institutions are actually a vital part of any economy, particularly in Connecticut. In fact, tourism accounts for $14 billion of revenue in the state each year and nearly 3 million people visit Connecticut's major attrac- tions during the summer months alone. Of the many cultural draws across the state, one long-time anchor has been Hartford's Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the country. With an impressive and expansive collection, the museum can easily rest on its laurels and continue to interest patrons. But the museum has continued to stay relevant and evolve with the times. e latest effort in that evolution is a five-year, $33 million renovation of more than 38,000 square feet and an added 16,000 square feet of exhibit space. Artfully done "e recent renovation posed the coveted and unique opportunity to reimagine our collections within our walls, and has transformed the visitor experience at the Wadsworth Atheneum," said Chief Curator Robin Jaffee Frank. "From intricate French porcelain and imposing Baroque master- pieces, to modern marvels and contemporary pieces that challenge the viewer to see the world in a different way, our renewed museum presents something for every taste." One new acquisition highlighted by Frank hangs in the museum's Baroque gallery — a painting by Italian Artemisia Gentileschi called "Self- Portrait as a Lute Player." Gentileschi is something of a rarity in the art world: a 17th Century female painter who became famous during her lifetime. Frank is also pleased with changes to the Great Hall in the Morgan Memorial building, constructed a century ago by financier J. Pierpont Morgan, which has been reimagined to reflect the salon style of a Gild- ed Age tycoon, with 24-foot-high walls densely hung with paintings. e revamped museum also includes new interactive exhibits, including one called the Cabinet of Art and Curiosity. e installation is filled with natural history specimens, objets d'art, and other rarities. Alongside the precious art works are interactive touch screens that visi- tors can use to create their own virtual cabinet collections. Structural upgrades during the renovation included gallery light- ing and climate improvements, uncovering architectural beams and windows, and adding new skylights, while historically refurbishing the Continued on page 76> PHOTO/WADSWORTH