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97ɫ�� and representatives from the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation announced a $1.5 million gift to the College on Wednesday, which will be dedicated to supporting the arts on campus.
 

Natalie and Dan Dunn, trustees of the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation, announced the 97ɫ�� Endowment for the Arts, noting that they became familiar with 97ɫ�� through College President J.B. Buxton.

“We immediately were inspired by the incredible work happening here,” Natalie Dunn said. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen firsthand how 97ɫ�� uses the arts to build community and empower students. It’s clear that the arts are a vital part of the 97ɫ��’s culture.”
This transformational gift will fund expanded annual programming — including public art and installations, visiting artists and lectures, gallery exhibitions, and more. Most importantly, it will provide long-term sustainability for arts education at the College.

“The impact that the Eichholz Foundation will have on the College and the community will be significant. In creating the 97ɫ�� Endowment for the Arts, this will ensure the sustainability of our arts programming,” Buxton said. “This will give artists the space to develop their craft, introduce students to new ideas and media, and help the College engage with the community through the arts.

The announcement was held in conjunction with the College’s annual Student Art Exhibition and the 25th anniversary celebration of Viva the Arts, a group at the College that promotes the arts through a variety of activities and endeavors. 

“This is not just a gift,” Natalie Dunn said. “It is an investment in 97ɫ��’s students, in its faculty and staff, and in the community that surrounds it. It’s a celebration of the past 25 years and a commitment to the next 25 and beyond.” 
Among arts initiatives the Eichholz Foundation has already supported over the past few years at the College are:

•    A new mural that on the east side of Building 5, which will be created through a course that combines student learning and community engagement;
•    College-wide art workshops and creative experiences that invite all employees to connect through the arts;
•    Gallery exhibitions featuring the work of prominent artists; and
•    Student art exhibitions and juried awards that recognize and celebrate emerging talent.

The Eichholz Foundation was established by Robert and Mercedes to promote the arts and advance education. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $40 million in grants to over 200 institutions—ranging from world-renowned museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Phillips Collection; university-affiliated art museums like the Ackland Art Museum at UNC-Chapel Hill; and acclaimed performing arts organizations like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the American Dance Festival. At the heart of all this work is a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts and the importance of expanding access to creative opportunities for all.