PHOENIX, ARIZONA.- Phoenix Art Museum has announced that it has received a $3.1 million gift from Ellen and Howard C. Katz for the new Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art. The four-level gallery wing is one of the 5 major components in the Museum’s current $41.2 million expansion project. The public Grand Opening Weekend is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, November 11 & 12, 2006.

“This is an historic time for Phoenix Art Museum,” said Ellen Katz, vice president of the Museum’s Board of Trustees and chair of the Grand Opening celebrations. “The strong support of the community for this significant expansion will enable the Museum to grow and mature among the nation's leading art museums, helping it become a more vibrant destination with out-of -the-box experiences accessible to all. The quality of life and economic development of this community benefit greatly from the Museum's strength as a cultural leader, helping the Valley take its well-deserved place among the most forward-thinking communities in the country. My husband and I are thrilled to be able to play a role in the Museum's exciting future." The couple maintains residences in Carefree, AZ, and New York City.

Phoenix Art Museum’s collection spans the globe and the centuries, and includes over 17,000 works of art. Previously, the Museum has been able to place on view only about 5% of those objects at any one time. The Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art will add over 25,000 square feet of gallery space for art. It will now provide the opportunity to Museum visitors to see more of the Museum’s remarkable collection, particularly works from the growing collections of modern and contemporary art, Latin American art, and fashion design. Just as important are the new exhibition spaces that will add to the Museum’s ability to create comfortable and inspiring experiences for those visiting large, $3.1 million gift to Phoenix Art Museum – add one world-class shows. The addition of these spaces also will make it possible for the Museum to consider a wider variety of exhibitions to bring to the Valley.

The building’s architecture, designed by Tod Williams/Billie Tsien and Associates, New York, continues the sweeping spaces and vistas one experiences in the Great Hall. A 40-foot high, light-filled rotunda and a flying staircase will provide views of all of the galleries from every level. Unique design features, such as two upper-level enclosed balconies and a sub-ground light well with a tranquil water pool, provide creatively new ways to view the sculpture garden and downtown Phoenix.

"Ellen and Howard Katz have demonstrated a tireless commitment to Phoenix Art Museum and keen foresight about the Museum’s role in our community and the art world,” said Drew Brown, CEO of DMB and president of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “This cornerstone gift and their successful fundraising efforts on behalf of the Museum have propelled our ability to seize this defining moment in Phoenix Art Museum’s history.”