The 蜜柚直播 Museum of Art will embark on a major upgrade of its education center thanks to a $1.5 million gift from 蜜柚直播 philanthropists Alice and Paul Baker. This is the second-largest donation TMA has ever received, and the largest earmarked for education.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an institution-changing type of gift,鈥 says Jeremy Mikolajczak, the museum鈥檚 chief executive officer.
The education center, just east of the museum, is in a building that once housed the city鈥檚 courtrooms and judges鈥 quarters.
The upgrades to the building will include:
- Four new classrooms, as well as updates of existing classrooms;
- A new 2,300-square-foot auditorium, which will accommodate up to 180;
- A 1,000-square-foot research library;
- Adaptable meeting space with updated technology;
- A renovated administrative center;
- A new public entrance.
People are also reading…
More than 27,000 people participate in the museum鈥檚 education programs annually, said Mikolajczak.
鈥淎cross the board, the gift will make an impact not only to K-12 students, but for our lifelong learning classes and the community,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his gift is so needed.鈥
TMA is not dawdling 鈥 construction is slated to begin in late February or early March and be completed just before TMA begins its 2019 summer camp in June. It will be called the Alice Baker Center for Art Education.
In addition, the Bakers have committed to gift a substantial portion of their pre-Columbian and Latin American artworks, further bulking up TMA鈥檚 already impressive collection.
Pre-Columbian and Latin American art is on view in TMA鈥檚 Palice Pavilion.
鈥淪ince the inception of the Palice Pavilion in 2001, the Bakers have been part of the driving force behind our representation of Latin American art,鈥 said Mikolajczak. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had their art on loan, but to have a firm commitment of this artwork is really outstanding,鈥
Earlier this year, I. Michael and Beth Kasser made a $2.5 million gift to TMA 鈥 the largest gift the museum has ever received 鈥 as well as giving their collection of 250 pre-Columbian artworks on a long-term loan.
When the Kassers鈥 artworks are merged with the Bakers鈥 gift and TMA鈥檚 already impressive collection of pre-Columbian and Latin American art, the museum will be kicked up to another league.
鈥淚t really positions the museum as a regional research center for this artwork,鈥 said Mikolajczak.
The Bakers鈥 donation means the 蜜柚直播 Museum of Art has raised 72 percent of a fundraising goal set in 2016. The 鈥淭MA/100: A Vision for the 21st Century鈥 campaign aims to raise $5.5 million by 2023.
Since the launch of that campaign, TMA received enough donations to invest $750,000 in upgrades to the main building. Those included upping the exhibit space by 1,500 square feet, to 5,000 square feet total.
Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@tucson.com or 573-4128. On Twitter: @kallenStar.
Kathleen Allen
Reporter
