Cleveland Museum of Art Announces $10 Million Gift from The George Gund Foundation and Gund Family

CLEVELAND (November 16, 2012) – The Cleveland Museum of Art today announced a significant gift from The George Gund Foundation and Gund family in support of the museum’s renovation and expansion project. The $5 million gift was approved by the trustees of The George Gund Foundation during their board meeting on Thursday, November 8. The Gund family committed an additional $5 million to the project. These gifts bring their total commitment to Transformation: The Campaign for the Cleveland Museum of Art to $20 million. In honor of these major gifts, the museum’s 1971 addition will be named The Gund Family Pavilion.

“We are grateful that The George Gund Foundation has committed this additional gift at such a crucial point in our campaign,” said David Franklin, Sarah S. and Alexander M. Cutler director. “The Gund family embodies the values and dedication of the museum’s original founders, and has such a passion for the arts, education and community service. We are proud to name the 1971 addition in their honor in recognition of their philanthropic support not only for the museum, but throughout Northeast Ohio.”

The 1971 addition was designed by Marcel Breuer and features a distinctive façade of alternating light and dark grey granite stripes. The newly re-designed building features three new structures designed by Rafael Viñoly: new wings on the east and west sides of the complex that connect the 1971 addition with the original 1916 Beaux-Arts building and a central 39,000-square foot atrium with a soaring glass canopy. The Gund Family Pavilion houses the museum’s education facilities, lecture halls, Gartner Auditorium and Gallery One, a unique, interactive gallery that blends art, interpretation and technology, opening on January 21, 2013.

"The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of Cleveland’s treasures and plays such a vital role in the lives of people throughout Northeast Ohio," said David Abbott, Executive Director of The George Gund Foundation, speaking on behalf of the Foundation and Gund family. "It embodies the best of who we are as a community and represents Cleveland’s importance in the arts throughout the world."

The renovation and expansion project, which began in 2005, is the largest capital raise by an arts and culture institution in the State of Ohio. This most recent gift is a major step in the completion of the campaign, which is currently within $100 million of its goal.

"This vote of confidence by The George Gund Foundation and Gund family is emblematic of our progress with this project and associated capital campaign," said R. Steven Kestner, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Cleveland Museum of Art. "We appreciate the continued support of the Gund family and all of those who have made this project possible. Their philanthropic spirit will ensure the museum’s place as the cultural heart of Cleveland for this generation and the next."