Grantmakers in the News
February 1, 2003
In conjunction with the announcement of a new $1 million donation to a Palm
Beach, Florida-based visual arts center named in their honor, Robert and Mary Montgomery
have asked the center to revert to its original name, the
Armory Art Center, in hopes that
the name change will help the center attract larger contributions, the Palm Beach Daily
News reported recently.
The Armory Arts Center is a nonprofit community-based visual arts education and exhibition
center, founded in 1986. Art students, preservation activitists, philanthropists, the
Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council joined to
create the Armory Art Center using the former Palm Beach County National Guard Armory, which
was vacant and scheduled for demolition.
The nonprofit center, which has received more than $2.8 million from the Montgomerys since
it was founded in 1987, was re-named the Robert & Mary Montgomery Armory Art Center in 1997.
The center will continue to honor the Montgomerys by adding their names to an historic 1939
classroom building on campus.
"In our discussions with Bob and Mary, we've talked about our not being able to attract large
donations," said Jane McGregor, chair of the Armory board. "The feeling is that having [their]
names attached to the campus is a detriment to getting larger donations, because there wasn't
a strong naming opportunity and some people perceived that the Montgomerys owned the Armory.
By taking their names off, we leave opportunities open for larger donors."
The couple's $1 million gift will go toward the Armory's $6 million capital and endowment
campaign, which so far has collected $1.1 million from Palm Beach County and $500,000 from the
state. The funds will be used to build a studio facility for young artists, renovate the
historic building, and add high-tech courses.
|
