UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts institute announced on Tuesday, March 28 their new name change, as well as changes to its 25-building campus in downtown Utica.

The institute will now simply be named Munson.

“We learned that while the organization has a strong national and regional presence, few knew us for our full, 10-syllable, multiple-hyphenated name. Our new name and brand will clarify who we are as an organization,” said Anna Tobin D’Ambrosio, Munson President & CEO.

The name change also came with an announcement of a redesign to the campus of Munson’s School of Art. New York City architects Cooper Robertson – who have worked on other galleries such as the Whitney Museum — unveiled plans for the redesign, which includes public green spaces, a maker’s studio and updated classrooms.

The College of Art will also get a name change starting in the 2023-24 academic year. Partnered with the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and currently known as Pratt-MWP, the college will be known as Pratt-Munson beginning with the newest incoming class in August.

D’Ambrosio adds that the original name featured three generations of one family – so the tribute to the Williams-Proctor family remains through the memories, the art collections within the museum, and the exhibits within Fountain Elms – the original William’s family home.