A skyway bridge, renovated gallery spaces and a new video and virtual reality (VR) space will all feature in the newly refurbished IU Eskenazi Museum of Art when it reopens in Autumn 2019.

Previously the Indiana University Art Museum, the museum in Bloomington, Indiana, was built in 1982. Since then, it has acquired more than 45,000 works of art, including rare ancient jewellery and a Pablo Picasso painting.

Closed since May 2017, the museum is undergoing renovations to bring the building up to modern standards. The renovations, says the museum, are on schedule with the plans set to dramatically improve the building.

"We’re helping the architecture of the building to be more inviting and engaging," said museum director David Brenneman.

"Our job is to connect people with amazing works of art. The modifications that we’re making to the building will enhance that."

The skyway bridge connecting both sides of the building was in the building’s original plans back in the 1970s but ended up being omitted due to costs. Now it will finally be installed and improve transit around the museum.

The new video and VR area will be "dynamic and experimental" according to Brenneman – bringing modern technological formats into play.

"We’re creating a special gallery which will be devoted to showing new media, so whether it’s immersive VR experiences, video works of art or just anything that can be projected," he said.

Meanwhile, the new gallery spaces will feature more contemporary areas, with better lighting and new cases. Visitors will be able to walk through them in any direction, whereas before the renovations they could only move around them clockwise or anti-clockwise.

Other features of the refurbishment process include a new education centre, which will see the museum become more involved in art education, and a newly-revamped café and shop.