Saskatchewan’s first public art museum is enjoying its largest donation in history.
An anonymous $25 million endowment gift is set to be used to help expand exhibits and programs at The Mackenzie Art Gallery.
The gallery says the gift will provide an average of 25 per cent of the gallery’s current annual operating budget.
“We’re going to be able to build on our strength as an international centre for contemporary Indigenous art,” Anthony Kiendl, executive director, said.
The anonymous donation has been endowed through the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, which will manage the funds.
The 65-year-old gallery also received a six-figure gift from local collector Lyn Goldman, in memory of her brother, the late artist Tony Thorn.
To be split between acquisitions fund and ongoing programming and organizational needs.
The Gallery says both gifts will help to better engage 21st century audiences ahead of its 70 year anniversary.
The donations support the gallery's initiatives to bolster funding sources, grow its collection and make strategic renovations to its facilities.
The gallery is planning to create a new community program space and a café that will be accessible to visitors to Wascana Park as well as to the MacKenzie, later this year.
