The Windgate Charitable Foundation of Siloam Springs, which has awarded many millions of dollars to Arkansas universities in the past several years to advance the arts, has made a grant of $1 million to the Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
The gift endows the Windgate Gallery within the Bradbury museum and is the latest in several donations to the museum, including matching dollars to a $1 million challenge grant by
The announcement by ASU included a statement by Les Christensen, director of the museum:
“Since being designated a museum, BAM has strived earnestly to enhance the region’s access to and appreciation for the arts by producing an ambitious exhibition schedule paired with educational programming,” said Les Christensen, director of Bradbury Art Museum. “We appreciate very much Windgate Charitable Foundation’s generous gift, which has helped make it possible for school groups, special needs adults, seniors and the public to enjoy weekend workshops, Thursday evening events, guided tours and individually-tailored activities.”
ASU partners with a local children’s organization, providing after-school classes and visits to the museum. The university would like in the future to add summer programming to the community.
Windgate, which reported assets of $235.5 million at the end of 2016, recently issued a $1 million challenge grant to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre to help it reopen and operate in a sustainable way. The trust is spending down its assets, and doing it in a way that is changing the face of the arts in Arkansas, with a $20.3 million gift to UA Little Rock to build the Windgate Center for Art and Design, $15.5 million to UA Fort Smith for its Windgate Center for Art and Design and $40 million to UA Fayetteville to create what will be called the Windgate Art and Design district.
Other planned art-related gifts in 2017: $5 million to the Arkansas Arts Center, $10 million for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and $2 million for UA Little Rock.