School of Art & Design

114 Ford Hall

Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

Phone: 734.487.1268

Fax: 734.487.2324

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Giving to the School of Art & Design

Recent Gifts

  • Marvin Anderson 3D Award

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    This award was established this year in memory of Marvin Anderson, Emeritus faculty member in 3D Design. Marvin contributed enormously to the department during his time here, we are thankful to be able to honor his legacy in this way.
  • Michael Zahratka and Jan Field Endowed Scholarship

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    A generous bequest has allowed us to establish this scholarship in the memory of Michael and Jan, both of whom served the department for decades as faculty in the Drawing and Painting area.
  • Faculty Development Fund

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    The Art Department recently received a generous one-time gift that will allow us to create a fund to provide support for faculty in their research and creative activity endeavors. This fund will provide support to one faculty member annually for each of the next 10 years.
  • Pat Williams Memorial Endowment

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    Emeritus Faculty member Pat Williams left a generous gift for the department that will ensure her legacy and the continuation of the programs she established. In addition to donating her digital loom and related studio equipment, Pat left an endowment that will support the establishment and maintenance of the Pat Williams Digital Fibers studio as well as a student scholarship fund the will support students working in fibers.
  • Sheldon Iden Art Award

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    After being inactive for several years, we are working to build the Sheldon Iden Art Award up to the endowment level. Once the goal is achieved, the award will become a permanent scholarship awarded every year in Sheldon's memory.

    Sheldon Iden, and accomplished artist and teacher, was a professor at EMU from 1967 until his passing in 1993. During this time, he touched the lives of many students.

Department Needs

The Art Department has a great number of needs. To illustrate and help you consider how you might help, here's a partial list:

  • Capital Needs

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    We are in the midst of many exciting projects around the department to improve our instructional spaces. In addition to those projects already under way, the department is working to take steps towards consolidating our facilities, currently housed in five buildings across campus. This has long been a top goal for the department, and it is closer than ever to reaching some level of realization. In particular, there are two projects for which we are currently building support. Please see the Capital Improvements section of the Letter from the Department Head for more information.
  • MFA Thesis Exhibition Support Fund

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    We are in the process of raising money to establish a permanent endowment to provide financial assistance to MFA students preparing for their thesis exhibition. The costs associated with these exhibitions can be very high, and many students are limited in what they can do because of financial constraints. This fund will provide much needed support for this endeavor. We are a third of the way toward our fundraising goal of $10,000 and are very appreciate of people willing to contribute to this endeavor!
  • Tools for learning

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    Art is a tool-intensive discipline and we need all kinds. The list is virtually endless. In order to maintain the quality programs we offer, we are constantly having to replenish our tools and equipment.
  • Faculty support

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    The Art faculty is very active in their scholarly and creative research, speaking, exhibiting and doing research on a multitude of topics. Our budget must stretch to support their important work. We are looking for help with travel support to make a difference in the quality of what they can do, strengthening them as teachers, artists and scholars.
  • Speakers and presenters

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    The Ford Gallery Program, ably run by Greg Tom and supported by an art faculty advisory committee, reaches out to thousands of visitors from our local communities in southeastern Michigan. Our speaker series has proven time and again that the community is hungry for what we have to offer. We are seeking an individual or individuals who would consider endowing a lecture series.

Student scholarships

To enable students to benefit from the excellent art programs at EMU, they need scholarships. Each year, the department awards almost $50,000 in scholarships. Despite that, only a fraction of our students receive help from the nineteen art scholarship funds we currently have. Money from these awards goes directly to help our students achieve and succeed. Area such as art education, art history, design and studio art are ways to focus your gift.

There are two scholarship in the department that we are working to bring to the endowed level:

  • Richard Rubenfeld Scholarship

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    Last year, Ricard retired from EMU. His greatest legacy to the department is without question the profound and lasting impact he has had on so many students. It is an enviable legacy, as it reaches far beyond the walls of campus and will last for decades to come.We are so glad we have a scholarship to honor that legacy. We are almost at the endowed level, please visit this link to make a contribution!
  • John Van Haren Scholarship

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    We have established a scholarship in memory of John Van Haren who able served as Department Head of Art for many years. Please contact the Colin Blakely if you would be interested in making a contribution.

More information on giving to EMU is available on the EMU Foundation Website or by contacting the Director, Sandra Murchison.

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