NAPLES, FL.- Artis—Naples announced the success of its Future—Forward Campaign for Cultural Excellence. Launched in 2016, the campaign initially aspired to raise $50 million for the endowment, and then, following the impact from Hurricane Irma in 2017, was expanded to $75 million for four key areas: improvements and upgrades to its physical campus, support for and expansion of artistic and community initiatives, growing The Baker Museum’s permanent collection and significantly increasing its endowment. With a campaign goal of $75 million, Artis—Naples is pleased to proclaim the campaign’s success, with contributed revenue exceeding $95 million.
“The overwhelming generosity of our community has enabled us to raise substantially more than we imagined for all four pillars of the campaign,” said Kathleen van Bergen, CEO and President of Artis—Naples. “We are thrilled at the extent to which our community of donors have stepped up and demonstrated their support for our mission and for the future of Artis—Naples. This includes full participation from the deeply dedicated Artis—Naples Board of Directors, who contributed over fifty percent of these committed funds. The involvement of so many underpins the success and vibrancy of this organization, ensuring that we can continue to bring world-class cultural offerings to the community for generations.”
“And an extraordinary final gift was made to the campaign just days before its completion,” van Bergen went on to announce. “We are moved beyond words that an angel donor, who already made a leadership gift of $10 million at the start of the campaign to endow the Artistic and Music Director position, made another momentous $10 million gift last month. Our deep and unwavering gratitude goes to Sharon and the late Timothy Ubben, whose legacy will forever resound throughout Artis—Naples.”
The completion and success of the Future—Forward Campaign is made all the more poignant by the recent appointment of Alexander Shelley as the incoming Sharon and Timothy Ubben Artistic and Music Director. These exciting developments have ushered in a new chapter for Artis—Naples that promises to marry artistic excellence with ambitious plans for the future, all underpinned by the unwavering organizational strength ensured by this campaign.
The priorities encompassed in the campaign included the repair and renovation of The Baker Museum, which was completed in 2020 and included an 18,000 square-foot expansion of its spaces. Additional improvements included an upgraded façade designed to withstand hurricane conditions, two repurposed galleries that have increased exhibition space for the permanent collection and visiting exhibitions and the creation of several new spaces for social interaction, performance, education activities and exhibitions.
Further priorities included the expansion of artistic offerings, which now take place nearly year-round and new, free community programs have been added in order to increase the opportunities for art lovers of all ages to engage with Artis—Naples programming. In addition, increasing The Baker Museum’s permanent collection has helped the relatively young museum grow in both scope and reputation.
As a result of the Future—Forward Campaign for Cultural Excellence, the endowment has grown to more than $119 million since 2016, which provides fiscal stability and added financial support to the day-to-day operations of Artis—Naples.
Artis—Naples gives deep and enduring thanks to the visionary philanthropic leaders who have provided for the continued development and success of its programs and mission, including hundreds of donors who gave generously from $100 to $20 million.
