Chrysler Museum of Art Launches Major Capital Campaign

Rendering of the expanded Perry Glass Studio, Entrance from Grace Street

June 27, 2022 (Norfolk, Va.) – The Chrysler Museum of Art recently launched the public phase of a $50 million capital campaign, announcing gifts and commitments totaling over $42 million.

The Campaign for the Chrysler will improve accessibility to the permanent collection, increase learning through art, and sustain the financial strength of the Museum. The priorities for the campaign include the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio, the creation of the Goode Works on Paper Study Center, and the establishment of endowments for school programs, technology and interactive media, and exhibitions. The funding from this campaign will also help ensure that the Museum remains one of the few art museums with free admission.

To increase learning through art, the Museum will establish the Endowment for School & Teacher Programs, which will support a key position within Chrysler’s Education Department and all related activities, which include school tours, curriculum development, and teacher professional development. The Museum will also establish the Endowment for Technology and Interactive Media, which aims to make art more accessible through new technology. Lastly, the Endowment for Exhibitions will support the Museum’s already vibrant exhibition schedule and accompanying educational programs.

“Reflecting on the last 50 years of the Chrysler Museum of Art, we are ecstatic to see how our collection and program offerings have evolved, and we’ve only just begun,” said Erik H. Neil, The Macon and Joan Brock Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art. “We are incredibly grateful to Doug and Pat Perry and the Perry Family Foundation who ignited this campaign and provided the lead gift to make the Studio expansion possible. With the tremendous support of our Board of Trustees and community, we plan to expand educational opportunities and make our facilities more accessible than ever.”

The museum recently broke ground on the 18,000 sq. ft. expansion of the Perry Glass Studio designed by local architectural firm, Work Program Architects. This expansion will double the educational and programmatic offerings currently available at the facility, helping to elevate the Studio’s standing as one of the leading glass institutions in the world. The expansion will house three hot shops, dedicated classrooms for each glassmaking technique and a performance theater that seats 200. The increased capacity of the Studio will allow for more and deeper partnerships with community organizations and fine art departments at area universities.

“Through its diverse collection and world-class curatorial staff, the Chrysler Museum of Art has established itself as the cultural hub of southeastern Virginia, and this campaign will ensure the Museum’s financial strength into the future,” said Wayne Wilbanks, Chrysler Museum of Art Board Chair. “We are grateful for the philanthropic support we have garnered so far and are hoping the broader community will come on board to support this local gem.”

Early campaign donor Joan Brock recently made a $34 million gift to the museum, including 40 works of art from the Macon and Joan Brock Collection and two position endowments, including the Director of the Museum. Funding from this gift also supports the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio. Other early donors include David R. and Susan S. Goode and their daughters, Christina and Martha, who made a $2.5 million donation to fund the new Goode Works on Paper Center and a group of 100 photographs by O. Winston Link.

About the Chrysler Museum of Art

The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.

The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-the-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes, including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking, and neon.

In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers the Moses Myers House, a historic house in downtown Norfolk, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.

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