St. Edward pledges $50,000 to Fort Smith Art Center

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 72 views 

St. Edward Mercy Medical Center has pledged $50,000 to the Fort Smith Art Center to support the renovation of the center’s new building at 1601 Rogers Ave, according to a statement from the art center.

Arvest Bank donated the former branch bank at 1601 Rogers Ave. — acquired in its $211 million purchase of Superior Federal Bank in late 2003 — to the art center in early January to expand space to exhibit art, photos and provide other services. The donation was contingent upon art center officials raising $200,000 by June 1.

In late May the art center reported it had received donations and pledges “far in excess” of $225,000.

Renovations to the facility will include temperature and humidity controls to make the art center capable of museum standards and the ability to exhibit and borrow art from other museums across the country.  

With the sale of the existing art center facility in the Belle Grove District, which is scheduled for July 2009, the capital campaign will top $500,000. This amount is 25% of the total amount being raised, according to the art center statement.