Accessing the Artist Within: The Campaign for the Arts at U.Va.

The arts enhance student and faculty creativity and innovation, connect programs and departments, and create a sense of community. By accessing the artist within themselves, students at the University broaden the scope of their research and thinking in all academic disciplines and become more effective problem-solvers, citizens, and leaders.

In this campaign, the University has successfully raised $80 million for arts programs and to build and renovate the facilities that comprise the Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds. The Arts Grounds’ new and expanded facilities re-create the synergy of the Academical Village and provide students and faculty with spaces for learning and study, interaction and reflection. The Arts Grounds include:

• Ruffin Hall, an entirely new facility constructed for the studio arts;
• renovations to the Bayly Building, home of the University of Virginia Fralin Museum of Art;
• restorations to make Fayerweather Hall the home of the art history program;
• the expansion of Campbell Hall, home of the School of Architecture;
• momentum for the Ruth Caplin Theatre;
• the Culbreth Road Garage, which provides much-needed parking for arts events and for everyday academic needs;
• and the Hunter Smith Band Building, which houses the University’s Cavalier Marching Band.

As the campaign concludes, we will raise $20 million more for the arts at the University, bringing the total to $100 million raised.

Priorities for the remaining Campaign for the Arts fundraising

The Arts Common

This will unify the Arts Grounds and provide a central green space for outdoor arts events.

Arts Faculty

The Museum, College, and School of Architecture seek to sustain their arts programs by raising endowed funds in support of their arts faculty:

• Museum—named Academic Curator and Curator of Exhibitions, $2 million each.
• College—named faculty support from $100,000 to Department Chairs starting at $3.5 million.
• School of Architecture—endowed professorships start at $2 million.

Student Support

• The College Arts Scholars endowed program will identify gifted students in the arts for tuition awards and provide funding for arts-intensive summer work. Naming opportunities from $100,000 to $2 million.
• The School of Architecture will raise endowed or expendable funds for fellowships for Master’s level and PhD students across design, architectural history, and planning disciplines. Endowed fellowships start at $100,000.

A World-Class Preservation Program

The Library will be able to endow its new faculty positions and more fully develop its new conservation lab. The Library will also be able to preserve the rare materials from its special collections, many of which are national literary and historical treasures. Named library endowments at $50,000.

Exhibition Support

Each year the University of Virginia Fralin Museum of Art and Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection design and host an average of twelve special exhibitions. Each exhibition must be funded completely through private philanthropy. Named exhibition endowments at $500,000. Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 – $50,000.

Fostering Object-Based Research

Through its new teaching spaces, the Fralin Museum of Art is creating opportunities for students and faculty to create new research based on objects housed in the permanent collections. Named research endowments at $500,00.

For more information, see the Arts Campaign Web site.