NSU MUSEUM OF ART FORT LAUDERDALE RECEIVES $1.5 MILLION CHALLENGE GRANT

Nova Southeastern University’s Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale-Photo by Steven Brooke

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (October 30, 2013) – NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale has received a $1.5 million challenge grant from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation. The challenge grant will support the museum’s general operating expenses and programming. The gift will match all new and increased giving to the museum over $5,000 and will be applicable for the next three years.

NSU Museum of Art is a cultural hub located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s arts and culture district. The museum’s 83,000 square-foot building holds more than 6,000 works, including noted holdings from the avant-garde Cobra movement, a prized selection of Latin American art and the largest collection of works by the American realist painter William Glackens in the United States. The museum became part of Nova Southeastern University in 2008, one of the nation’s largest private research universities.  In September 2013, Bonnie Clearwater joined the museum as Director and Chief Curator.  Under her new leadership the museum is embarking on an unprecedented phase of growth and transformation that aims to reach new audiences and integrate the academic facilities and resources of the university.

“Everything we have been doing has prepared us to take the museum’s philanthropic program to the next level,” said NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. “NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is uniquely positioned to be the community’s epicenter for arts and cultural activities. Through generous gifts such as that of the Horvitz Family Foundation, and the leadership of the museum’s new director Bonnie Clearwater, the museum’s future is looking brighter than ever.”

David and Francie Horvitz both joined NSU Museum of Art’s Board of Governors in 2007. David served as Vice Chairman for three consecutive years (2008 – 2011) and he is currently serving his third year as Chairman of the museum’s board.  Horvitz stated, “Fran and I are excited about the opportunities that come with hiring the museum’s new Director, Bonnie Clearwater.  We feel fortunate to offer this challenge grant as a catalyst to grow the number of museum supporters and to encourage additional support from existing donors.”

“This inspiring challenge grant has already sparked an enthusiastic outpouring of support,” said Clearwater.  “The museum has so far received nearly $300,000 in gifts as a response to this gift.  David and Francie Horvitz have long recognized the importance of supporting the arts and community, and we are deeply grateful for their continued commitment to the museum. Their generosity will help enable us to bring the highest quality scholarly and engaging exhibitions and programming to the public.”

About NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale

NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is located at One East Las Olas Boulevard, and is an anchor of the cultural life of Broward County.  Founded in 1958 and housed in a distinctive modernist building designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, it presents dynamic exhibitions and programs that encompass the breadth of civilization’s visual history. The museum offers a comprehensive education program through the dynamic AutoNation Academy of Art + Design.  For general museum information, call (954) 525-5500 or visit www.moafl.org.  Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm; Thursday, 11 am – 8 pm; Sunday, 12 – 5 pm.

About Nova Southeastern University

Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  Nova Southeastern University is the ninth largest not-for-profit and independent institution in the nation with an enrollment of 27,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. For more information visit www.nova.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Emily McCrater
Communications and PR Manager
NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale
One East Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL  33301
emccrater@moafl.org
(954) 262-0236

Donna Fields
donnafields@gmail.com
(954) 258-1712