Museum of New Mexico

New Mexico History Museum Campaign Gains Over 1,200 New Donors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 08, 2008

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Carmella Padilla
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NEW MEXICO HISTORY MUSEUM CAMPAIGN GAINS OVER 1,200 NEW DONORS

New Mexicans Statewide Bring Museum Closer to Fund Raising Goal for Exhibits

Santa Fe, N.M.—More than 1,200 new donors—giving at various levels—have brought the New Mexico History Museum closer to its $6.5 million goal to build exhibitions at the new downtown museum, according to a report at the Museum of New Mexico Foundation’s Aug. 7 Annual Meeting.

New Mexicans from throughout New Mexico joined the History Museum campaign this spring to raise another $425,000 to help meet the terms of a $750,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation. Thanks to their donations, only $323,000 remains to be raised to reach the Kresge challenge and complete the History Museum campaign.

“These donors prove that, whether you give $4, 40 or $4,000, every gift is important to the completion of this museum,” says Campaign Chair Eileen Wells. “We thank them for caring about the history of our state enough to give, and we encourage others to join them in building this exciting new museum for all New Mexicans.”

Scheduled to open adjacent to the historic Palace of the Governors on Memorial Day Weekend 2009, the 96,000-square-foot History Museum will be a vibrant, interactive space where centuries of prehistory, European history, and American history come together to tell the story of New Mexico’s diverse cultures. New Mexicans of all ethnicities in more than 27 communities statewide have helped museum staff and other experts develop multimedia exhibitions, suggesting everything from specific subject matter to educational outreach programs.

One thematic display —“My New Mexico”— combines audio, film, and other interactive media to highlight personal narratives of New Mexicans from the 1970s to today.

“We want these exhibits to inspire pride in one’s personal history and place, and in the collective history of all New Mexicans,” says History Museum Director Frances Levine. “Every New Mexican has a place in our new history museum.”

The New Mexico History Museum campaign is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s $22 million “Shape the Future” campaign to support endowment and capital projects at Foundation-affiliated institutions. To date, the Shape the Future Campaign has reached $20.6 million, according to an announcement at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting.

 

To learn how to give to the New Mexico History Museum, contact Development Director Colleen Kelly at 982-6366, ext. 107, or colleenk@museumfoundation.org.

 

Founded in 1962, the private, non-profit Museum of New Mexico Foundation raises funds for exhibitions, education, collections, capital improvements and other valuable programs and projects at the Palace of the Governors/New Mexico History Museum, New Mexico Museum of Art, Museum of International Folk Art, and Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology; six state monuments; and the Office of Archaeological Studies. For more information visit www.museumfoundation.org.

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