The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) on Wednesday announced plans to transform its visual arts program with a $5 million gift from the nonprofit Windgate Foundation of Little Rock, the largest single donation in the school’s history.
The gift will fund construction of a new Art Tower at the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center, marking the facility’s first major renovation in more than three decades. As the tallest building on campus, the tower will “redefine the center’s appearance and serve as a striking gateway” for visitors while adding classrooms and studio space, the university said in a news release.
“This investment affirms the vital role of the arts in higher education and in the cultural life of our region,” Chancellor Anthony Graham said. “As we work to meet the needs of today’s artists, this gift allows us to construct a cutting-edge facility, expand opportunities for creativity, and foster an environment where our students can thrive as scholars, innovators and cultural leaders.”
The Windgate Foundation supports visual arts education by funding contemporary craft programs, art history preservation, and K-12 and higher education arts initiatives. The gift to UAPB brings the nonprofit’s investment in the university to nearly $8 million over the past decade. The sum includes $2 million for an endowed scholarship for first-generation students and more than $850,000 for art initiatives that engage young artists, students and the community.
“For decades, our students have created brilliance with limited space,” UAPB Art Department Chair Karen DeJarnette said in the release. “This expansion will finally give their creativity the room it deserves — from upgraded studios to gallery spaces where their work can truly shine.”
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