The Kresge Foundation Awards First Local Grant in 25 Years
Erie Art Museum Awarded $600,000 Challenge Grant from The Kresge Foundation
Erie, PA, July 31, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Erie Art Museum’s $9 million building expansion project has been awarded the prestigious Challenge Grant from The Kresge Foundation, the first local grant from the Foundation in 25 years.
The Kresge Foundation, a $3.5 billion private foundation, has awarded the Erie Art Museum a $600,000 Challenge Grant, thus challenging the local community to raise the remainder of the Museum’s campaign goal, $2,116,254. To date the Museum Erie Art Museum has already secured $7.2 million in public and private funding for the $9 million expansion and renovation project including $3.5 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and $1 million from the Erie Art Museum’s Board of Directors. An additional $2 million of a $3 million endowment goal has been secured for the Erie Art Museum’s long-term financial security.
“A grant from The Kresge Foundation sends another strong message to the community that this project will be a total success. While construction is underway, meeting the total campaign goal is essential to building the highest quality project possible with the greatest benefit to the community,” said Erie Art Museum Director John Vanco. “The Kresge challenge will attract more community donors and increase the already substantial number of people participating in the project.”
The Kresge Foundation awards capital funds through challenge grants to help nonprofit organizations build their base of private financial support as they conduct capital campaigns to build or renovate their facilities.
“Our grant process is highly competitive with applications received from across the United States,” said Sandra Ambrozy, senior program officer for The Kresge Foundation. “We must decline many more opportunities than we can support. We are increasingly interested in the intersection of arts organizations and community impact. In the Erie Art Museum’s efforts to respond to your region’s significant community needs, we thought the Museum’s programming went beyond a typical art museum. In particular, we were compelled by the Museum’s activities to incubate arts organizations, support artists, foster economic development, and provide meaningful school education programs.”
According to The Foundation’s website, “Kresge has long been known as a supporter of brick and mortar projects. Our signature challenge grant program historically has funded nonprofit organizations that are engaged in capital campaigns to raise private funds in support of institutional growth through the construction of new facilities, the acquisition or renovation of existing facilities, the purchase of real property, or the purchase of major integrated equipment systems.
“With the challenge grant, we want to help you strengthen the long-term sustainability of your institution. We want your organization to become more practiced in strategic planning and development and to increase staff ability to assess organizational need and plan accordingly.
“Because environmental conservation is one of our values, we encourage challenge grant applicants to consider green construction.”
The Challenge Grant award is the second grant from The Kresge Foundation received by the Erie Art Museum. In 2008, the Museum received $50,000 through The Foundation’s Green Building Initiative towards the planning costs associated with designing a green building. Through the Green Building Initiative, Kresge awards planning grants to nonprofit organizations to underwrite the integrated design process necessary for historic preservation, green renovation, or new construction that aims to achieve the highest levels of environmental sustainability.
The Museum’s green building features under consideration include the sustainable re-use of landmark historic buildings, water re-use and management (waterless/low-flow systems, drain inlets protected, rainwater management), a green roof, native plants used in landscaping, use of natural lighting to minimize energy usage (new glazed openings at the first floor of the Annex building), building orientation (new entrance) designed to maximize natural lighting, energy efficiency features (HVAC system), minimal use of carpet and other floor/wall finishes, and environmental recycling and educational programs.
“Few art museums can simultaneously combine historical preservation and reuse, anchor a major part of a downtown improvement district, and provide environmental education,” said Vanco. “The Erie Art Museum renovation and new construction project represents regional and national innovation in sustainable design and reuse of historical buildings that occupy a prime location in Erie’s downtown business district. The Museum will be the first LEED-certified green building in the City of Erie.”
About the $9 million Expansion Project
The Erie Art Museum’s renovation and expansion project includes the renovation of an existing 15,000 square feet of building space and the addition of 10,000 square feet of space. The project consists of a link between the Art Museum’s main building (Old Custom House) on State Street and the Museum’s Annex, which fronts on both State and Fifth Streets. Included will be four major galleries, a number of smaller galleries, a 250-person performance space, a public meeting space at a new unified entrance, and other visitor amenities.
The Erie Art Museum broke ground on its expansion May 8, 2009 and expects to open in the fall of 2010.
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The Kresge Foundation, a $3.5 billion private foundation, has awarded the Erie Art Museum a $600,000 Challenge Grant, thus challenging the local community to raise the remainder of the Museum’s campaign goal, $2,116,254. To date the Museum Erie Art Museum has already secured $7.2 million in public and private funding for the $9 million expansion and renovation project including $3.5 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and $1 million from the Erie Art Museum’s Board of Directors. An additional $2 million of a $3 million endowment goal has been secured for the Erie Art Museum’s long-term financial security.
“A grant from The Kresge Foundation sends another strong message to the community that this project will be a total success. While construction is underway, meeting the total campaign goal is essential to building the highest quality project possible with the greatest benefit to the community,” said Erie Art Museum Director John Vanco. “The Kresge challenge will attract more community donors and increase the already substantial number of people participating in the project.”
The Kresge Foundation awards capital funds through challenge grants to help nonprofit organizations build their base of private financial support as they conduct capital campaigns to build or renovate their facilities.
“Our grant process is highly competitive with applications received from across the United States,” said Sandra Ambrozy, senior program officer for The Kresge Foundation. “We must decline many more opportunities than we can support. We are increasingly interested in the intersection of arts organizations and community impact. In the Erie Art Museum’s efforts to respond to your region’s significant community needs, we thought the Museum’s programming went beyond a typical art museum. In particular, we were compelled by the Museum’s activities to incubate arts organizations, support artists, foster economic development, and provide meaningful school education programs.”
According to The Foundation’s website, “Kresge has long been known as a supporter of brick and mortar projects. Our signature challenge grant program historically has funded nonprofit organizations that are engaged in capital campaigns to raise private funds in support of institutional growth through the construction of new facilities, the acquisition or renovation of existing facilities, the purchase of real property, or the purchase of major integrated equipment systems.
“With the challenge grant, we want to help you strengthen the long-term sustainability of your institution. We want your organization to become more practiced in strategic planning and development and to increase staff ability to assess organizational need and plan accordingly.
“Because environmental conservation is one of our values, we encourage challenge grant applicants to consider green construction.”
The Challenge Grant award is the second grant from The Kresge Foundation received by the Erie Art Museum. In 2008, the Museum received $50,000 through The Foundation’s Green Building Initiative towards the planning costs associated with designing a green building. Through the Green Building Initiative, Kresge awards planning grants to nonprofit organizations to underwrite the integrated design process necessary for historic preservation, green renovation, or new construction that aims to achieve the highest levels of environmental sustainability.
The Museum’s green building features under consideration include the sustainable re-use of landmark historic buildings, water re-use and management (waterless/low-flow systems, drain inlets protected, rainwater management), a green roof, native plants used in landscaping, use of natural lighting to minimize energy usage (new glazed openings at the first floor of the Annex building), building orientation (new entrance) designed to maximize natural lighting, energy efficiency features (HVAC system), minimal use of carpet and other floor/wall finishes, and environmental recycling and educational programs.
“Few art museums can simultaneously combine historical preservation and reuse, anchor a major part of a downtown improvement district, and provide environmental education,” said Vanco. “The Erie Art Museum renovation and new construction project represents regional and national innovation in sustainable design and reuse of historical buildings that occupy a prime location in Erie’s downtown business district. The Museum will be the first LEED-certified green building in the City of Erie.”
About the $9 million Expansion Project
The Erie Art Museum’s renovation and expansion project includes the renovation of an existing 15,000 square feet of building space and the addition of 10,000 square feet of space. The project consists of a link between the Art Museum’s main building (Old Custom House) on State Street and the Museum’s Annex, which fronts on both State and Fifth Streets. Included will be four major galleries, a number of smaller galleries, a 250-person performance space, a public meeting space at a new unified entrance, and other visitor amenities.
The Erie Art Museum broke ground on its expansion May 8, 2009 and expects to open in the fall of 2010.
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Contact
Erie Art Museum
Tammy Roche
814-459-5477
erieartmuseum.org
Tammy Roche
814-459-5477
erieartmuseum.org
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