NEW YORK - Gifts and pledges from the New York State Council on the Arts and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation totaling $100,000 will help underwrite an exhibition and provide general operating support at The Museum of Arts & Design. These monies represent a vital increase in public-sector support and visibility for the Museum, which is part of a select group of leading cultural institutions to receive the agencies' aid.
"These generous gifts are particularly gratifying," says Holly Hotchner, Director of the Museum of Arts & Design, "because they demonstrate not only the wholehearted support of our state and its continuing commitment to the arts, but also a belief in the museum's mission to advance the work of America's finest artists and artisans. These funds also are a satisfying response to the concerted effort we have made in the past four years to increase public-sector support and to make the city and state more aware of the services we offer."
The gifts:
A $25,000 grant of public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) will support the exhibition Defining Craft II: Objects for Use, set to open in September. Other institutions receiving exhibition grants included the Asia Society, Japan Society, China Institute and the New York State Historical Association.
NYSCA made a second pledge of $35,000 to the Museum for general operating support.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation gave an unrestricted appropriation of $40,000.
The Museum is especially indebted, Hotchner said, to State Senator Roy M. Goodman, whose support helped secure the pledge of $40,000 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The exhibition Defining Craft II: Objects for Use and the general operating support grants are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.