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January 9, 2004
Alcoa Foundation grants largest Quad City gift in its history to the Figge Art Museum
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Davenport, Iowa - - Alcoa's Davenport Works announced today an Alcoa Foundation grant of $130,000 to support technology and education at the Figge Art Museum currently under construction in downtown Davenport. Gifts, grants and pledges to the Museum's capital campaign now exceed more than $7.7 million towards its goal of $10 million.
Davenport, Iowa - - Alcoa’s Davenport Works announced today an Alcoa Foundation grant of $130,000 to support technology and education at the Figge Art Museum currently under construction in downtown Davenport. Gifts, grants and pledges to the Museum’s capital campaign now exceed more than $7.7 million towards its goal of $10 million.
“We are extremely honored to be the recipient of this gift, the largest one made by Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation in our community,” said Linda Downs, Director of the Figge Art Museum. “It truly speaks to the regional scope of this project and especially to Alcoa Foundation’s support of art education in our community.”
One of the outstanding aspects of the Figge Art Museum will be its creative use of technology to meet educational and cultural needs not only in the Quad Cities but also throughout the nation. In an era of tight school budgets, the Figge, through the use of technology, will be able to offer curriculum material to K-12 schools that want to provide arts education but must do so in a more cost effective manner. As a result, the technology will enable the Figge Art Museum to share educational materials with educators both locally and across the country, record and broadcast a variety of educational programs presented at the Figge to K-12 and college classrooms across the region and disseminate scholarly research on its collections.
The Alcoa Foundation, in its more than 50 years of existence, has invested more than $356 million in its communities worldwide. During that time, more than $30 million has been invested in the Quad Cities community by Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation. Alcoa Foundation has four Areas of Excellence including global education and workplace skills. The Figge Art Museum will become a leader in arts education in the region through its use of technology. “Alcoa Foundation is committed to the education of our children, including the arts. Visual arts education is critical to the development of creative thinking and analytical skills in students. We are proud to be a part of enhancing the visual arts education of students not only in the immediate Quad Cities but throughout the region,” said Mark Vrablec, Director of Manufacturing for the local Alcoa Operation.
The Figge Art Museum is part of $113.5 million worth of redevelopment in central Davenport. Tim Wilkinson, Vice President, Alcoa Mill Products commented, “Alcoa recognizes the cultural and educational importance of the Figge Arts project to River Renaissance and the entire Quad City community. Investing in our community is an important part of ensuring the continuing economic development and viability of the Quad Cities. Alcoa remains committed to improving the quality of life for current and future employees and their families.”
Also present at the announcement ceremony was President of the Figge Art Museum Regional Board, Linda Lewis. “The Figge Art Museum will improve our region through its state of the art educational programs and cultural enhancements to our community. We are thankful for the pledge from the Alcoa Foundation, along with the many other businesses who have stepped forward for their commitment to the new Museum.”
ABOUT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
In addition to Alcoa Foundation’s support of technology and education, other major gifts to the Figge Art Museum project include commitments of $1.0 million each from the Adler/Schermer Foundation, the Bechtel Trusts and Foundation, John Deere Foundation and Miss Elizabeth Haines; a grant of $500,000 from the Riverboat Development Authority, $500,000 from the Ella Soenke estate and a grant of $300,000 from the Scott County Regional Authority. Additionally, more than $2.4 million has been raised in gifts from other generous donors.
The Figge Foundation made the major leading pledge of $10 million for the construction and a $2 million two-to-one challenge grant over a ten-year period to support an endowment for programs and exhibitions in the new facility.
General Chairs for the fund raising campaign are: Richard Bittner, Trustee, Bechtel Trusts and Foundation; John K. Figge; Thomas K. Figge; Thomas G. Getz, President, Moline Forge, Inc.; Dr. Michael C. Giudici, Cardiovascular Medicine P.C.; Robert W. Lane, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Deere & Company; Peter Lardner, retired, Bituminous Insurance Companies; Dr. J. Randolph and Linda Lewis, Cardiovascular Medicine P.C.; Dr. Walter E. Neiswanger, retired; Henry G. Neuman, Partner, Betty, Neuman & McMahon; Dr. Richard B. and Dianne D. Phinney, Eye Surgeons Associates, P.C.; John D. Stavnes, President & CEO, Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, N.A.; Dana J. Wilkinson, CEO, Paragon Commercial Interiors; and Timothy M. Wilkinson, Director of North American Public Strategies, Alcoa.
ABOUT THE FIGGE ART MUSEUM PROJECT
David Chipperfield, London, is the Figge Art Museum lead architect. His credentials include the award-winning River and Rowing Museum, London; Museum Island, Berlin; and recent commissions to design the BBC world headquarters and the new Des Moines Public Library. Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck of Des Moines is serving as architect of record. The local firm of Russell-Pepper is providing construction management for the project.
The Figge Art Museum will include three levels and span the entire south half of the block on Davenport’s River Drive between Harrison and Main Streets. The main floor will serve as a community square. The second level will include an educational center equipped with technology to provide programs and exhibitions electronically throughout the Midwest and Nation. Also located on the second floor will be galleries to exhibit the center’s 3,500-piece permanent collection including principal collections of Haitian, American Regionalist and Mexican Colonial art. The third level will be devoted to a gallery for traveling exhibitions of national and international caliber.
The Figge Art Museum is a member of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations program, one of only two institutions in Iowa to hold this status. Program participants are able to borrow artwork on a long-term basis from museums such as the National Museum of American Art, the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The program is a significant opportunity for The Figge Art Museum to reinforce exhibitions on display, expand educational outreach and ultimately, appeal to a wide array of visitors.
ABOUT ALCOA FOUNDATION
The Alcoa Foundation is a global resource that actively invests in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. With more than $356 million invested since its inception in 1952, Alcoa Foundation has positioned itself as a source of positive community change and enhancement. Areas of Excellence guide local and global grant making decisions. Alcoa Foundation’s Areas of Excellence include: Conservation and Sustainability, Safe and Healthy Children and Families, Global Education and Workplace Skills, and Business and Community Partnerships. In 1985, the Alcoa Foundation granted funds to the Davenport Museum of Art to restore the Mexican Colonial Art Collection.
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