NCCF Awards $100K Grant to New Canaan Museum and Historical Society
Pictured in the Museum’s new “Jim and Dede Bartlett Center for New Canaan History” (L-R): Jeff Williams, Board Chair, NCCF; Tom Monahan, Board President, NCMHS; Dede Bartlett; Lauren Patterson, President & CEO, NCCF; Nancy Geary, Executive Director, NCMHS
New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) is proud to announce a $100,000 multi-year grant to the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society in support of their current capital campaign, Campus Reimagined, aimed at transforming the organization’s campus and enhancing its role as a cultural and educational hub in New Canaan. In recognition of the NCCF’s support, the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society will be attributing the Rogers Studio, the first National Landmark building in New Canaan, to the Foundation.
With NCCF’s $100,000 multi-year grant, the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society has raised approximately $1.6 million of their $2.1 million goal, leaving approximately $500,000 in funds remaining to reach their fundraising goal. The Campus Reimagined Campaign consists of four key projects:
The Jim and Dede Bartlett Center for New Canaan History: This permanent exhibition, which opens to the public on June 4, is dedicated to New Canaan's history, featuring areas focused on prominent residents, industry, business, art, and architecture. Interactive consoles will allow visitors to explore collections and learn about the town's history. A child-friendly area will educate on curation and storytelling through artifacts.
The Jim Bach Special Collections Museum: Honoring longtime resident and Town Historian James Bach, this new building will replace the current "Tool Museum" and feature a beautifully restored 1860 Demarest Carriage, an operational Hoe-Acorn Press, and the studio of Addison T. Millar, a founding member of the Silvermine Art Colony. The museum will also host a dedicated exhibit space for Silvermine artists and a functional print shop for workshops.
Restored Rogers Studio: The first National Landmark building in New Canaan, the building was originally the studio of John Rogers, a New Canaan resident and important American sculptor. The 1875 studio has been restored, and its interior will be an exhibition dedicated to Rogers' life, work, and connection to New Canaan.
Archival Space for the Clothing and Textile Collection: An $85,000 project to convert the attic space in the Town House at 13 Oenoke Ridge into additional climate-controlled storage for the museum's extensive collection. NCCF contributed $8,500 towards this effort in a previous grant investment.
"New Canaan Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting projects that impact our entire community, like Campus Reimagined, at a high level,” said Lauren Patterson, NCCF President & CEO. “We believe this grant will support the organization’s transformation into a cultural destination that offers interactive and educational experiences about New Canaan's history. We are proud to support such a critical effort of one of our longtime partners."
For more information about the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society’s Capital Campaign, visit: https://nchistory.org/campus-reimagined-campaign/. For more information about New Canaan Community Foundation’s mission and work within the community, visit: https://www.newcanaancf.org/.