The College of Creative Arts a dedication for its newly renovated Museum Education Center for the Art Museum at West Virginia University, Friday, Oct. 22, as part of Homecoming Weekend. The building, designed by world-renowned architect Michael Graves, is located adjacent to the Creative Arts Center.

In addition, the college’s Visiting Committee announced the creation of the J. Bernard Schultz Fund for the Art Museum at WVU, which will provide special works of art for the new museum in the name of current Dean Bernie Schultz.

The ceremony began with a musical prelude featuring student violinists, Taylor Giorgio and Shiva Shafii, from the WVU studio of violin professor Mikylah McTeer. WVU President James P. Clements and Provost Michele Wheatly helped Director Joyce Ice unveil a mockup of a plaque that will be placed in the building.

“This is a celebration; it is a milestone for us,” Clements said.

He noted that the University has committed $7.6 million to the art museum, which includes the Education Center as well as the construction of a new building for gallery space. The remainder of the funding, totaling approximately $10.6 million, will come from private sources, and two-thirds of that has already been raised. He thanked the major donors to the museum, including Dr. Joginder Nath, genetics professor at WVU, whose substantial gift will provide for a sculpture garden and courtyard for the museum; Alison and Patrick Deem of Bridgeport, W.Va., who have provided funding for the art museum as well as for visiting artists at WVU; and John and Ruth McGee of Charleston, W.Va., who have pledged $1 million to the museum, in addition to a valuable collection of Shona (Zimbabwean) stone sculptures.

Barbara Bean, president of the CCA Visiting Committee, surprised Dean Schultz at the dedication with the announcement of the fund set up in his name. More than 50 donors have already contributed to the fund.

“We want generations to come to know and appreciate, as we do, the years of his life that Dean Bernie Schultz has given to the College of Creative Arts and for which we are so very grateful,” she said.

“This art museum is going to play a significant role in the future of WVU,” Dean Shultz said. “It will help advance the University as we move through the next decades.”

Schultz outlined the ways in which the Art Museum at WVU will help achieve the goals recently released in the University’s strategic plan for 2020, including diversity, economic growth, global outreach, professional development and research.

In addition, he noted that 168 members of the local community have already joined the Friends of the Art Museum. “I can’t think of a better town-gown relationship.”

The Museum Education Center building was designed in 1985 by world-renowned architect Michael Graves, one of “The New York Five,” a group of architects praised for their work in architectural modernism. The center now houses staff offices and will eventually include a museum shop and an outdoor terrace for seasonal use. The Grand Hall will host a variety of educational programs, including art activities, lectures, artist demonstrations, recitals and performances.

To contribute to the J. Bernard Schultz Fund for the Art Museum at WVU, contact the WVU Foundation at (304) 284-4000. To joint the Friends of the Art Museum, call (304) 293-6825, or visit the website at http://www.ccarts.wvu.edu/art_museum.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4841 ext. 3108, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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