The Fort Wayne Museum of Art
American Art Initiative Capital Campaign


Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much money are you trying to raise?
   Our goal is $7.5 million. Of that amount $5.5 million will be for building expansions and improvements. The remaining $2.0 million will be used to expand and enhance our permanent collection.
   
   
2. Why is the campaign called “The American Art Initiative”?
   It is our goal to transform the museum into one of the nation’s premier collections of American art – to put on display the unique and independent culture of this nation in its proper historical and cultural context. We have already embarked on this comprehensive effort to raise the public’s understanding and appreciation of American art in all its periods, styles and manifestations.
   
   
3. How will this change the permanent collection?
   A museum’s permanent collection is the backbone that supports the institution’s exhibitions and programs. We want to provide a foundation to the current collection by displaying objects from all periods of American fine and decorative art. Paintings, sculpture, furniture and other objects will be permanently on view. This will create a coherent, distinctive permanent collection for people to bond with and enjoy viewing again and again.
   
   
4. Why do you need to change the building?
   The fine art storage vaults are presently at maximum capacity. Our desire is to expand the building to provide safe storage of the current holdings and support the growth of the permanent collection. The building is also in immediate need of major repairs to the roof, the HVAC systems and other aspects of the structure.
   
   
5. Will the galleries change?
   Yes. The new gallery space will have a completely different design configuration that will double our exhibition space creating significantly more space for displaying works from our permanent collection. We anticipate yielding at least six new galleries. Four of these will be devoted to the permanent collection. The surrounding galleries will present steadily revolving temporary exhibits.
   
   
6. What happens to the library?
   The library will be relocated to an area where the public will have greater access. In addition, the library collection will be expanded based on the new focus of the permanent collection.
   
   
7. What will be done to the education areas?
   Our current education areas are disjointed and not easily accessible to the public. The education gallery is “hidden” and the library can be a challenge to reach. Our desire is to create a new education center that will incorporate the library and create a teacher’s resource facility with a material and methods lab to provide internet resources and hands-on learning.
   
   
8. Will the auditorium and atrium change?
   Yes. We aspire to become a bustling hub of activity and an integral part of the city’s downtown revitalization. We anticipate a new public lecture, meeting and dialogue space to house the auditorium. The museum will offer meeting rooms, internet access and digital projection equipment for the business community. Our goal is to create an atrium with comfortable seating areas, wireless internet access all in a warm inviting space.
   
   
9. What will happen to the gift shop? The gift shop will be expanded and a festive café will be added. Outside the museum will offer shaded patio seating surrounded by a new sculpture garden where people can enjoy snacks and beverages or just relax.
   
   
10. When will this be done?
    Our goal is to begin construction in mid-summer 2008. Our galleries will remain open until the final configuration changes occur in summer 2009. Our grand re-opening will be in early 2010.