The Newport Art Museum (NAM) announced today that it has been awarded an $84,310 grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) to continue a series of capital improvement projects that will enhance visitor experiences and support essential upgrades to the Museum School at the Coleman Center.
According to Newport Art Museum, this funding comes on the heels of The Champlin Foundation’s recent award of $17,025 for repaving projects.
“The Newport Art Museum has been a fixture in the community for more than a century, and maintaining our treasured historic properties –– and making them more accessible –– remains a top priority,” said Executive Director Danielle Ogden in a provided statement. “The Museum School is a critical part of that strategy. With these generous gifts from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation and The Champlin Foundation, we are able to invest in our spaces of learning and creativity and enhance and expand our offerings to serve artists, students, and visitors of all ages and abilities.”
According to Newport Art Museum, planned improvements using the vBCF grant funding include space enhancements and supplies for the Museum School, technology improvements for events, and better interior and exterior lighting. Funds from The Champlin Foundation will improve campus accessibility by repaving the main parking lot.
Across the Bellevue Avenue campus, between the 160-year-old John N.A. Griswold House, the 105-year-old Morris/Cushing Gallery, and the Museum School, recent improvements include a new HVAC system for the Cushing Building, exterior painting, and balcony restoration.
ADA-accessible door upgrades and new architectural signage were also previously funded by vBCF, and ongoing paving projects have been supported by The Champlin Foundation, the Sand Foundation, and Charles A. and Lois H. Miller Foundation.
