These days, it’s not too often thata not-for-profitorganization sees a big boost in donations from the public, but one of the region’s top art galleries has not only reached its fundraising goal, it’s extending it.
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton has taken in $25-million in donations. They money is going toward a major facelift.
“We are building a bigger art gallery, overall,” says gallery director& CEO, Terry Graff.
While some renovations are already complete on the inside, on the outside, there’s a different kind of art and design taking shape.
“We have big dreams and big ambitions for the Beaver Brook Art Gallery,” says Graff. “We have tremendous community support. It’s wonderful that the community has come out and engaged with the gallery, and in fact, the share of the funding that we’ve raised has come from private donors.”
It was a big campaign to begin with, $25-million big. Believe it or not, the gallery has just about reached that goal – so they’re aiming higher.
The millions of dollars are paying for the expansion, a pavilion, and a café. It will also go towards more educational programs in the community, as well as hiring some more staff to help show it all off.
Graff admits that it’s the exception, certainly not the rule, these days.
“I think it’s challenging for any not-for-profit,” says Graff. “Especially in the arts, you can’t avoid fundraising. It’s often not the first thing that government wants to support, or even the public sometimes.”
However, support is exactly what the gallery got. They’re hoping there’s $3-million more out there.
Fredericton’s mayor says he thinks it will happen.
“Knowing the people that are involved in their fundraising campaign, I have every confidence that they’ll raise that, just about as quick as they did the original $25-million,” says Mayor Mike O’Brien.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown
