Chucki and Curt Bradbury of Little Rock have given $500,000 to Arkansas State University to enhance the Bradbury Gallery at the Jonesboro campus.
It will become the Bradbury Art Museum, to reflect a broader mission of collecting and exhibiting art. An ASU release said the 5,200-square-ft space has been redesigned to have five separate galleries for rotating shows and more new exhibits.
Chucki Bradbury is a graduate of ASU and Curt Bradbury, chief operating officer at Stephens Inc., endowed the gallery in 2001 as a tribute to her. Both have been supporters of the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock. She has been chair of the Arts Center Board of Trustees.
Bradbury has spoken often about the educational power of art and a belief of a great potential for growth of an interest in art in Northeast Arkansas, distant from major institutions such as the Arts Center in Little Rock and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
The gift was announced Monday night at a ceremony at ASU offices in Little Rock.