The Gregg Museum of Art and Design at NC State received $650,000 from the Wake County Board of Commissioners last week, bringing the three-year-long campaign for funding to a near close.
Although the museum is still about $25,000 to $30,000 short on private funding, the construction is expected to begin this semester. The museum, which is currently located next to the JC Raulston Arboretum, is planning to move into the old chancellor’s residence near the Bell Tower across the street from David’s Dumpling and Noodle Bar.
The museum construction will add a new 15,200 square foot addition to the old chancellor’s residence to house its large collection of artwork.
The museum faced obstacles throughout its three-year-long funding campaign. Christina Menges, director of arts development at NC State said construction costs went up about $2.5 million during the progression of the fundraising campaign, bringing the original construction estimate from $7.5 million to $10.4 million.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners initially denied the museum’s request for funding.
“We had spoken to the board last spring and late last summer, and our original request of $2 million was denied,” Menges said. “We took a chance at going back to the board late January and submitted a reduced grant request for $650,000. We were very hopeful that we would get the grant but we had no idea how the board would vote.”
With the funding from the Wake County Board of Commissioners, the campaign is nearly complete. During the campaign, funding came from a mix of private and public sources.
Menges said the private fundraising was about 40 to 41 percent of the total campaign at $3.9 million.
“The remaining portion of the $9.6 million goal is covered by a variety of university, city and Wake County Board of Commissioners grants,” Menges said.
Despite funding setbacks and increased costs, the funding process took about as long as the museum’s staff expected it to, according to Menges.
“It has been a very successful campaign,” Menges said. “We have been very lucky to have people in the community and on campus and from our alumni who recognized the value of having the museum on campus.”
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the museum is scheduled to take place on April 14 at the historic chancellor’s residence, and will be open to the public. By then, Menges expects funding to be fully complete.
“We want to encourage as many people to come to the groundbreaking as possible,” Menges said. “We are very proud of this campaign and this museum, and we would love to share it with everyone who played a part in this, which is all the current students and the alumni who helped realize the campaign.”
Some students expressed enthusiasm for the art museum coming to campus.
“I think it will be a great opportunity for students to see some good art, especially if it’s local art,” said Michaela O’Connor, a senior studying international studies.
Other students saw the value of having a museum close to campus.
“The art museum downtown is awesome, but it’ll be great to have access to high culture right next to campus,” said Michael Abler, a graduate student studying economics.
