DOYLESTOWN, PA.- The James A. Michener Art Museum today announced a $1.5 million challenge grant initiated by Penn Color, Inc. in support of the James A. Michener Centennial Campaign—a $10 million capital campaign to raise funds for major expansion and renovation of the Museum’s Doylestown, Pennsylvania facility. The Penn Color Challenge Grant brings the campaign total raised to date to over $7 million. This announcement comes just two weeks after Bruce Katsiff , Director and CEO of the Michener Art Museum , publicly shared details of the Museum’s campaign and architectural plans during a press briefing on April 19.

“Penn Color has been a strong corporate supporter of the Michener Art Museum since the Museum’s founding and we are thrilled to see this international company, headquartered in Doylestown, continue its advocacy of our region’s artistic heritage through a leadership commitment to the James A. Michener Centennial Campaign,” stated Ted Fernberger, Campaign Co-Chair.

Lou Della Penna, Campaign Co-Chair added: “This outstanding gift enables the Museum to move into the second phase of its capital campaign to raise much needed resources for expanded educational facilities, the creation of an event pavilion for concerts, lectures, public programs and private functions and expansion of the children’s gallery. This grant, and the matching funds it will generate, will help the Museum to better serve our community’s young people and to nurture a lifelong interest in the arts.”

Penn Color, Inc., headquartered in Doylestown , PA , is a major international manufacturer of colorants for the plastics, coatings and printing ink industries. Established in 1964, as PFD Plastics, Penn Color is a privately held company with more than 650 employees. With manufacturing facilities throughout the United States , and in the Netherlands and India , Penn Color’s products are used worldwide in building products, consumer packaging, carpet and flooring, automotive and decorative applications.

“As a longtime friend to this institution, Penn Color is excited to be a part of the Museum’s future,” explained Kevin Putman, President and CEO of Penn Color and a Vice President of the Michener Art Museum ’s Board of Trustees. “We hope that this challenge grant inspires other corporations, foundations and citizens to support the Museum as it moves forward with a major expansion and renovation, increasing its ability to effectively serve the needs of a growing and increasingly diverse community.”

The $1.5 million Penn Color Challenge Grant must be matched with additional campaign gifts totaling $1.5 million. To make a gift in support of this challenge grant please contact Carol Nelson, the Museum’s Director of Advancement at cnelson@michenerartmuseum.org or (215) 340-9800, ext. 167.

The first phase of the Michener Art Museum’s expansion and renovation program will build a new wing to include a 5,000 square-foot upper level gallery that is large enough—and flexible enough, to accommodate major nationally touring exhibitions and the permanent collection. The lower level will expand the Museum’s curatorial and administrative capabilities. The project will also expand the art storage, preparation and handling facility, and will install new climate control systems for the entire museum. The second phase of the project calls for the construction of an event pavilion. The patio area of the Patricia D. Pfundt Sculpture Garden will be covered with glass, creating a premier indoor event space able to host large public programs and private events. The second phase also includes the renovation of the Ann and Herman Silverman Pavilion into an education complex with two classrooms, an orientation area, a larger museum shop and café, and a larger children’s gallery.

The Michener Art Museum has hired world-renowned Hillier Architecture for the project. The firm’s award-winning portfolio includes the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, Cornell University ’s Center for Birds and Biodiversity, and the Abbe Science Center for the Solebury School .

The Museum hosts 18-20 annual exhibitions including traveling exhibits that engage visitors with the entire spectrum of art. Classes, lectures, concerts and films develop a lifelong involvement with the arts. Annual attendance exceeds 135,000 visitors. Educational activities serve more than 14,000 children annually. The Museum now has over 12,000 members, a strong demonstration of support and commitment to maintain the arts in our community.