CCS BARD

The CCS Bard Library is one of the foremost contemporary art research collections in the United States focusing on post-1960s contemporary art, curatorial practice, exhibition histories, theory and criticism. The Library’s main collection houses extensive holdings of international exhibition publications and artists’ monographs supporting the in-depth study of artists represented in the permanent collection. Special Collections includes important holdings of historic and out-of-print artist produced periodicals, limited edition, rare and signed exhibition catalogues and contemporary art publications, as well as an extensive collection of artists’ books. Through donation and purchase, the Library is comprehensively collecting the full publication history of select international exhibition venues, art publishers, and small presses.

New Keith Haring Wing at CCS Bard

In October 2025, the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (CCS Bard) will inaugurate its new Keith Haring Wing, a 12,000-square-foot addition to its Library, Archives, and collection storage facility. The expansion responds to the continued growth of CCS Bard’s research center and collections, encompassing art and archival holdings. The addition more than doubles the current capacity of CCS Bard’s Library & Archives, significantly increasing the number of students, scholars and researchers it can support.

Supported by a $10M capital campaign, the Keith Haring Wing is named in recognition of a lead $3M gift from the Keith Haring Foundation, which builds on the organization’s longstanding partnership with CCS Bard. Additional lead support for the project is provided by the Marieluise Hessel Foundation, along with major gifts from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg Foundation, and a private foundation. Further support is provided by the CCS Bard Board of Governors and the Center’s community of patrons, supporters, and friends, along with in-kind support from ROI Office Interiors.

The Keith Haring Wing, designed by the award-winning firm HWKN Architecture with C.T. Male Associates serving as executive architect, is a two-story masonry structure that complements the existing CCS Bard facility, characterized by minimalist, light-filled interiors. Open ceilings and large windows introduce natural light deep into the expanded library, fostering an inviting and productive atmosphere for research and study.

To read the full story about the new Keith Haring Wing, click here.

The CCS Bard Archives contain the institutional archives for the Center for Curatorial Studies and the Hessel Museum of Art as well as the organizational archives of select galleries, artist-run spaces and initiatives, and the personal papers of curators and artists. The Archives also maintains a collection of artist files for the artists represented in the Hessel Museum collection, and Study Collections that document a range of international curators, and historic exhibitions.

The Library and Archives are open to the Bard community as well as outside scholars and researchers specializing in the contemporary arts. Appointments are necessary to consult materials in Special Collections and the Archives. For more information or to schedule a research appointment, please contact us.