A $500,000 donation from Randy Papé, chairman of the University Board of Trustees, has put the vision of a major expansion project for the University Museum of Art within sight.
Museum officials have raised a total of $11,155,000 so far, and the goal of raising $12 million will likely be completed by June, said Christie McDonald, museum director of development.
“We’re pretty confident we’ll complete it,” she said. “It won’t be difficult, but it won’t be a cakewalk. It’s like trying to lose those last five pounds of a diet.”
Most of the funding for the renovation project comes from the state Legislature’s Capital Construction Budget, corporations and donations from alumni and faculty emeriti. Museum officials also applied for several state grants, many of which they are still waiting for the final decisions.
“We’re extremely pleased to have received such generous donations,” McDonald said. “It would take several more years if we didn’t have help.”
Papé, a local business owner, made the contribution to the campaign as a birthday gift for his wife, Susie, two weeks ago during a party at the museum.
“I was totally surprised,” said Mrs. Papé, a member of the museum board.
McDonald said the Papés are also supportive of the athletic department and the business school. “They’re really great people,” McDonald said. “They’re very committed to the University in many areas.”
Public support is crucial to the development, said Kaci Manning , manager of public relations at the museum.
“We not only rely on the public’s financial donations but their support when it opens,” Manning said. “Our goal is to have a full building all the time.”
Beginning next spring, the 70-year-old building will receive its first renovation that will more than double its size to 63,000 square feet. The new look will feature a café, a store and an interactive gallery.
Museum director Dave Robertson said he hopes to attract traveling exhibitions to the new 4,700-square-foot exhibit gallery when the project is complete in 2003. The renovation will provide space for all of the 13,000 art collections that now fit in space originally intended for about 3,800.
Once construction begins, the museum’s access will be unavailable to the public. Despite efforts to keep it open, Robertson said the museum must close during the two-year construction period. The museum staff will focus mainly on teaching during that time.
“We tried to design the plans so we could keep part of the museum open during the renovation, but it’s just not possible,” Robertson said. “It would add months to the project and $1.5 million.”
In addition to being an important project for the community, the renovation will provide better opportunities for students and faculty, McDonald said.
“This will have a big impact on campus for many academic disciplines,” she said.