This January, the Georgia Museum of Art was set to host its 17th biennial gala, Elegant Salute. Since M. Smith “Smitty” Griffith created that event, it has served as our major fundraiser, with a year (or more) of robust fundraising and planning by dozens of faithful volunteers(opens in new tab). The presence and patronage of those who support, attend and volunteer for the event are testaments to the museum’s mission of teaching, research and service that mirrors the University of Georgia’s.
For decades, the proceeds from the evening have provided vital funding to support the museum’s programs, but the global pandemic that hit Georgia in March 2020 obviously meant that it couldn’t go ahead as planned. Instead, museum staff focused on how to reallocate funds to acquire hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, webinar-enabled Zoom capabilities, urgent technological upgrades, supplies for Art at Home kits and more so that we could safely reopen to the public while remaining committed to our mission.
Arts organizations have and will continue to struggle. Our museum is among them, despite the fact that we are fortunate to benefit from the support of the citizens of the state of Georgia, and its flagship university, as the official state museum of art. For years, we have discussed the possibility of an endowment designed specifically to help support the everyday operations of the museum and its programs. The most recent budget reduction we are navigating, which is likely not to be the last, makes this conversation more relevant than ever in order to preserve our standing as one of the most important university museums in the country.
We have and will always need private support for exhibitions, catalogues, outreach, year-round educational programs and acquisitions to complement our permanent collection. But now, more than ever, we need a source of funding for postage, telephones, printing and other less exciting but no less vital necessities that enable us to continue to provide free inspiration to all. So, this year, instead of a gala and the fundraising effort typically associated with the evening, we ask you to join us in a very different, but no less urgent, legacy effort.
In two years, the museum will celebrate its 75th anniversary or “diamond” anniversary, a fitting one given that diamonds can withstand tremendous pressure. Our director’s vision for our next 75 years, and beyond, is a museum that is capable of providing groundbreaking exhibitions, producing relevant scholarship in the visual arts, serving as a teaching resource for our campus and community and, equally important, continuing to be a place of enjoyment and inspiration, regardless of the pressures under which we find ourselves. We also must be able to continue with the everyday operation of the museum and continue to expand our offerings to a new and quickly expanding virtual audience so that we remain relevant in an ever-changing world.
As we draw near this milestone 75th anniversary, we urge you to join us in perhaps our most important initiative with your commitment to the Georgia Museum of Art: Fund for the Future Endowment(opens in new tab). This multi-year endowment campaign’s initial goal of $1 million will ensure that the annual interest can provide much needed stability and immediate support for the daily operations of the museum. It also provides a fitting legacy for our director, William Underwood Eiland, who has spent three decades leading the museum to national and international prominence.
We are grateful to the board of directors of the Friends of the Museum and for a bequest from the estate of Martha T. Dinos. These combined gifts totaling $250,000 enabled us to begin fundraising immediately.
Our 2021 Elegant Salute co-chairs Isobel Parker Mills and Mary Lillie Watson also generously agreed to shift their efforts and serve as co-chairs of the endowment campaign, with Ham Magill, David Matheny and Gordhan Patel serving as fundraising co-chairs. As a result of their efforts, we have reached a total of $500,000 toward the initial goal of $1 million, with gifts continuing to arrive. We congratulate them on their success so far and have every confidence that they will surpass our goal with your help.
Authored by:
Hillary Brown
