In a significant achievement for the arts community, the Portland Art Museum (PAM) has announced the successful completion of its $116 million capital campaign, aimed at funding the new Rothko Pavilion and making substantial upgrades to its Belluschi and Mark Buildings.
This announcement came on Thursday morning, October 16, just a month ahead of the cherished unveiling event scheduled for November 20, marking a potential revitalization for the museum’s downtown campus.
Additionally, the museum raised an impressive $5 million beyond its initial $111 million target, to cover final construction expenses, demonstrating the community’s robust support for the arts in challenging financial times.
The capital campaign also contributed significantly to PAM’s endowment goals, with $28.4 million raised towards a $30 million target designed to support ongoing museum operations, curatorial roles, and other critical initiatives.
The new Rothko Pavilion, an expansive glass-enclosed structure spanning nearly 22,000 square feet, honors the legacy of renowned artist Mark Rothko—who was born in Latvia, grew up in Portland, and graduated from Lincoln High School.
This pavilion will bridge the original Belluschi Building to the south and the Mark Building, a historical Masonic Temple, to the north.
When completed, the entire project will introduce almost 100,000 square feet of newly renovated or refurbished spaces to the museum campus, greatly enhancing accessibility for all visitors, including those with mobility challenges, and streamlining transitions between galleries.
Cyndy Maletis, chair of the museum’s board, expressed her gratitude in a news release, stating, “I am deeply grateful for the generous support from the individuals, foundations, and businesses in Portland and across the region who recognize and value the impact of the arts on our city and its downtown.”
She emphasized that for over a century, the museum has stood as a beacon of inspiration in the Northwest, and with this expansion, it will continue to thrive into the next century.
The museum’s successful fundraising venture is marked by the generous contributions of more than 1,000 individual donors, 49 of whom provided gifts of $1 million or more as part of the broader Connection Campaign.
Among the major donors contributing to the capital campaign was a lead gift of $13.5 million from the late Arlene Schnitzer, coupled with an $8 million anonymous contribution.
Other notable donations included $5 million each from Mary and Tim Boyle, Trudy and Pat Ritz, Nani S. Warren, Helen Jo and Bill Whitsell, and yet another anonymous benefactor.
The capital campaign was conclusively achieved thanks to a $1.1 million donation from Fred and Gail Jubitz, longstanding supporters of PAM, bringing their total contributions to the campaign above $4 million.
Despite facing hurdles such as the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and budget cuts during President Donald Trump’s administration, which stifled federal funding for the arts, the Portland Art Museum has managed to surpass these barriers through considerable private donations.
This successful campaign comes almost a decade after the proposal for the expansive remodel and upgrades was initially unveiled, with museum Director Brian Ferriso overseeing the whole undertaking.
Following the grand public unveiling, Ferriso is set to depart for Texas to assume a new role as director of the larger Dallas Museum of Art.
PAM is currently in the process of selecting a new director to lead the organization post-expansion.
The renovation and expansion projects have been skillfully designed by Portland’s Hennebery Eddy Architects in collaboration with Vinci Hamp Architects based in Chicago.
image source from：orartswatch
