So much has happened in recent weeks! It’s hard to believe that just eight months ago, the Board of Trustees voted approval on the scope and goal for a project that we believe will dramatically enhance the Museum in so many ways, from visitor experience and audience development to collections care and access.
In the past month alone, we have received several significant gifts toward our Museum of California Campaign — including three million-dollar-plus grants from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, the Bernard Osher Foundation, an anonymous individual, a leadership commitment from the Art Guild, plus a third gift from the Women’s Board. These commitments, together with earlier gifts, represent a huge vote of confidence and a tremendous boost to our vision of a new museum for California. While we’ve raised more than $43 million towards our goal, the Valley grant has been made in the form of a challenge and we must raise an additional $12.5 million, due in two installments. So we’ll be working hard to secure the first $6.25 million of this support prior to our commencing construction early next year. This fall, we’ll be formally announcing charter participants in The Starter Society, a designation that recognizes those individuals, families, businesses, and foundations who provided the early “visionary” investments to launch our campaign. Inclusion in this important recognition begins at gifts of $250,000 and up.
We’re also celebrating a very generous gift to the Museum’s collection – some 275 plus works of contemporary California art. Noted collectors Ruth and Ted Nash long ago recognized in the Oakland Museum of California the ideal repository for their collection. They will forever be remembered at the Museum they so valued for its leadership in championing California artists and bringing so many important California artists to public attention through exhibitions and collections. Their collection adds great strength to our holdings by artists from across the state, including Robert Arneson, Lynda Benglis, Manuel Neri, Michael C. McMillen, Stephen de Staebler, and a host of others. In August, we’ll give you a glimpse at select works with a special exhibition in the Art Gallery. And, highlights of the collection will certainly play a prominent role in our new Art Gallery when it opens in 2009.
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