Millions raised as DIA construction enters its final months

February 13, 2007 (Detroit)—The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) announced today it has raised over $80 million of its $180 million goal for the museum’s Great Art, New Start capital campaign and with its master plan project nearing completion, the DIA is preparing to engage the community in the campaign. With just over nine months until the grand opening of the “all new” DIA in November, the museum is entering the “home stretch” of its six-year master plan project and excitement is building.

“We’ve been working for several years to create a museum experience that encourages visitors to make personal connections with the extraordinary objects in the DIA’s galleries,” said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. “As we enter the final phase of renovation and work to install approximately 6,000 art objects over the next several months, we’re also planning to engage the community in this incredible project and in the fundraising required to support it. To date, we have tended to focus on major patrons, but we are now reaching out to our broader membership and museum supporters, indeed to all those who value our museum and all it brings to the community.”

The Great Art, New Start campaign was initiated in September, 2005 and has enjoyed significant success in little more than a year. The campaign is supporting the building expansion and renovation, the reinstallation of the DIA’s world-class collection, museum operations and increased endowment. Lead gifts from the late Josephine F. Ford, Richard A. Manoogian and A. Alfred Taubman launched the campaign 18 months ago. Since then, the DIA has received numerous generous gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations committed to helping the museum realize its vision.

Among individuals who are supporting the museum with gifts of $1 million or more are Marvin and Betty Danto, Fred and Barbara Erb and William H. and the late Patricia Smith.

The foundation community continues to play a key role in sustaining the DIA including a new $3 million challenge from The Kresge Foundation which is contingent upon the DIA raising an additional $15 million by April 2008. Gifts from The Kresge Foundation, the McGregor Fund, Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Hudson-Webber Foundation, and Whitney Fund currently represent more than $10 million to the campaign.

“It is very gratifying, especially in the current economic climate, to see unprecedented support from a variety of major donors,” said Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr., chairman of the DIA board of directors. “The level of enthusiasm is extremely high because the DIA is truly focused on providing a meaningful experience for all of its visitors and is doing that in new and exciting ways. As we share more and more of our work with our community and our entire region, that enthusiasm builds.”

            The DIA will begin to engage the larger community by first contacting its 32,000 member households. Members form the core of the museum’s broad base of support, and have expressed great interest in the innovations planned for the “new” DIA. Plans are also underway to reach out to the general public through media campaigns, telemarketing and direct mail. The DIA touches hundreds of thousands of people each year, and their support—great or small—will make an important difference as the museum prepares to unveil years of work this fall.

“People throughout metropolitan Detroit and the State of Michigan express their appreciation for the DIA in the hundreds or letters, emails and phone calls I receive each year,” Beal said. “This is the moment for all of our friends to step forward and keep the campaign’s momentum strong. Large gifts are the building blocks of any campaign, but small gifts are the mortar that holds it together. I hope everyone who cares for the DIA will respond positively to our appeal as we work together to give great art a new start.”

# # #

The DIA’s major renovation and collection reinstallation will be completed in November. While we’re working to give great art a new start, we remain open with a dynamic schedule of programs and activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy some of the DIA’s “greatest hits” while the museum prepares for an entirely new installation.

Hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.–-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is a donation. We recommend $6 for adults and $3 for children. DIA members are admitted free. For membership information call 313-833-7971.

Programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.