ANDOVER, MASS.- Phillips Academy Head of School John Palfrey recently announced the successful conclusion of the Addison Gallery of American Art’s fundraising campaign—a $30 million effort that included $22 million for the expansion and renovation of the museum building and $8 million to strengthen the Addison’s endowment. Both phases of this ambitious undertaking—the largest and most comprehensive fundraising campaign in the museum’s history—secure the Addison’s position as a nationally renowned museum of American art and the only museum of its caliber on a secondary school campus.
Free and open to the public, the Addison serves visitors of all ages, including students at the Academy and in surrounding communities. The renovation project has opened doors for young people, making the collection more accessible through the Museum Learning Center in the new Sidney R. Knafel Wing. The Addison’s education program reaches several thousand students each year and draws upon a collection of American art that is among the most comprehensive in the world, numbering more than 17,000 objects.
The Addison’s expanded endowment ensures consistent annual support for new and innovative projects. Building on a history of acclaimed exhibitions, the Addison has continued to break ground in recent years with shows like Sheila Hicks: 50 Years and American Vanguards: Graham, Davis, Gorky, de Kooning, and Their Circle, 1927–1942.
“Thanks are due to countless individuals, but I would like to mention in particular Oscar Tang ‘56, Stephen Sherrill ’71, and Michael Schmertzler ’70, who were extraordinarily generous with both time and treasure,” noted Sidney Knafel ’48, chair of the Addison’s Board of Governors, who led the seven-year effort. “Additionally, Brian Allen’s leadership as director throughout the campaign was critical to the success of this enterprise.”
Allen, who oversaw all creative and operational aspects of the Addison for nearly 10 years, recently became Director of the Museum and Vice President of the New-York Historical Society. A search to appoint his successor is expected to conclude this spring.
Knafel also thanked members of the Academy Board of Trustees and the Addison Board of Governors for their guidance and support, “without which this campaign would not have been possible.”
John Palfrey expressed his appreciation for Knafel’s leadership and vision. “Sid’s dedication, passion and ability to make the case so eloquently for the museum’s crucial role in multi-disciplinary learning were instrumental to the campaign’s success,” he said. “Thanks to many hands and much hard work, the Addison’s next director will inherit a museum in beautiful condition and with a healthy endowment in place. We look forward to seeing the director shape the museum’s future in bold and creative ways."
