Procter & Gamble, Larry & Rhonda Sheakley and many generous donors give to the museum’s most ambitious fundraising effort in its 141-year history

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CINCINNATI — October 28, 2022 — The Cincinnati Art Museum has surpassed $65 million in dedicated fundraising to its visionary A New View campaign. The most ambitious fundraising effort in the museum’s 141-year history, the campaign’s goal is to inspire Cincinnatians and connect communities through the power of art.

“The Cincinnati Art Museum is indispensable to what makes our unique region a vibrant place to work, to live, to play and to learn. Our job, each day, is to make art accessible to every member of our community,” shared Cameron Kitchin, the museum’s Louis and Louise Dieterle Nippert Director. “Thanks to these incredible gifts, we can be what Cincinnati has asked of its art museum: innovative, intentional, visible and interwoven into civic life.”

A New View supports three key priorities in the museum’s recent community-sourced strategic plan: visitor experience and scholarship, community impact and outreach and organizational excellence. The campaign entered its public fundraising phase in September 2021. Today, as it has surpassed the stated fundraising milestone of $65 million, the campaign will remain open as the museum continues to fundraise to support projects and programs.

Andrew DeWitt, Amy Hanson and Murray Sinclaire lead the campaign as co-chairs, with honorary chairs Marty and Nick Ragland and Kitty and Dick Rosenthal. Hanson adds, “What made me excited about this campaign is that it is all about taking the Art Museum and turning it outwards to embrace our community - all of our community. We want to be that place where all feel welcomed and like they belong. We are adding community services and opening up the museum’s grounds in a way that is really transformative. This is truly A New View of the Cincinnati Art Museum, and I am proud to be a part of this team effort.”

Campaign cabinet members included Susie Castellini, Manuel Chavez, Rance Duke, Polk Laffoon IV*, Sherie Marek, Jon Moeller, Andrew Quinn, George Vincent, Phil Vollmer and Barbara Weyand. Supporters who wish to be a part of this historic campaign may do so by electing to have their name, or that of a loved one, engraved on a paver atop the Art Climb. For more information, visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org/anewview.

Procter & Gamble’s leadership gift – given early in the campaign – made the museum’s Art Climb possible. In addition, an anonymous lead gift launched the campaign’s endowment raise and positioned the museum for strategic growth. Cincinnati Development Fund’s investment followed shortly thereafter to support the campaign’s connection to the Walnut Hills neighborhood. Larry and Rhonda Sheakley’s new gift has now enabled the campaign to surpass $65 million.

“Art is a vital part of a thriving, vibrant community, and I am proud that Rhonda and I could help position the Cincinnati Art Museum for success in demonstrating the power of art to both current and new audiences,” Mr. Sheakley said. “I look forward to seeing how the museum charts new territory as it forges ahead.” To honor Mr. and Mrs. Sheakley’s gift, the museum will rename its Cincinnati Wing in their honor.

“It’s important that we connect Cincinnati Art Museum to the spaces around us,” said Jon Moeller, Chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble. To be a part of our community, we need to reflect our community and we need to serve our community. In other words, we need to turn our view outwards. That’s what this campaign is all about.”

In addition to Procter & Gamble and Mr. and Mrs. Sheakley, important campaign donors include: the Wyler Family Foundation; Western & Southern Financial Group; Marnick Foundation; Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank Trustee; The State of Ohio; and The Carl M. Jacobs Foundation.

This milestone positions the museum to complete several upcoming projects, including the creation of long desired space for school groups and public programs to be named in honor of a major gift from the Sherie Marek Family; a universal Cincinnati 4^th-grade program for arts education, a research center for photography, prints and drawings named for the Carl M. Jacobs Foundation; and new support for the museum’s commitment to institutional diversity and inclusion to inspire and connect Cincinnati of today and tomorrow.

Several projects that A New View funded already are complete, including the Art Climb; the outdoor addition of the Jaume Plensa statue, “Isabella,” which welcomes visitors driving up the main entrance and made possible by Craig and Anne Maier; the Wyler Family Entrance, serving as the museum’s new front drive and made possible by the Wyler Family Foundation; the renovations of the Hanna Wing and the Anu & Shekhar Mitra Gallery; and more.

About the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Cincinnati Art Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Cincinnati, as well as our members.

Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from the Rosenthal Family Foundation. Special exhibition pricing may vary. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free. cincinnatiartmusem.org

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