Ringling School of Art and Design Receives Largest Private Gift
in School's History; Announces Four New Academic Programs
SARASOTA, Fla., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Ringling School of Art and Design
recently received a seven-figure cash gift from benefactors Ann and Alfred
Goldstein to be used to strengthen and expand current academic programs, and
create new, innovative academic offerings for the College's 1,000+ students.
Ringling School President Dr. Larry R. Thompson made the announcement Friday,
February 25, 2005, at a special ceremony on the School's campus attended by the
Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and community representatives. The
College has received thousands of gifts since its founding in 1931, but the
Goldstein gift is the first seven-figure cash donation the institution has
received from a private donor in its near 74-year history.
Dr. Thompson outlined details of the gift, which, he said, "set a new standard
of philanthropy" at the College. The unique contribution is designated toward
the School's endowment.
Since the fall of 2003, the School and its faculty have been involved in a
process to examine the College's curriculum and to determine how it might be
expanded to meet the needs of current and potential students. At the February
Board of Trustees meeting, four new concentrations and minors were approved: 1)
the Business of Art and Design; 2) Visual Development; 3) Game Art and Design;
and 4) Digital Film. All but Digital Film will begin in the fall of 2005.
The Goldstein gift is designed to provide research and development funding for
these new programs, beginning with the Business of Art and Design.
In recognition of this contribution, the School's newest building has been
named the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Center.
Speaking on behalf of his wife and himself, Goldstein commented on their
reasons for establishing this monumental endowment at Ringling School of Art
and Design: "Ann and I are passionate about the value of a private, college education. Our
gift will provide the impetus to expand Ringling School's academic program
offerings, and will help provide the opportunity of an exceptional education
for many young people. We are pleased to be able to give back to Sarasota to
enhance its cultural richness. We hope this gift acts as a catalyst for
continued academic innovation at the College for years to come and will inspire
others to make significant investments in arts education. We did it for the
School, its students, for the arts, and for the greater community." About Ringling School of Art and Design Ringling School of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit, fully
accredited college offering the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree [BFA] in six
disciplines: Computer Animation, Fine Arts, Graphic & Interactive
Communication, Illustration, Interior Design, and Photography & Digital
Imaging. Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, the picturesque 34-acre campus
encompasses 69 buildings, and attracts more than 1,000 students from 46 states
and 33 foreign countries. It is recognized as being among the best and most
innovative visual arts colleges in the United States as well as a leader in the
use of technology in the arts. With a 2:1 student to computer ratio, Ringling
School's computing infrastructure rivals even that of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology [MIT]. DATASOURCE: Ringling School of Art and Design CONTACT: Christine Meeker Lange, Director of Marketing & Communications, Ringling School of Art and Design, +1-941-359-7594, or cellular, +1-941-302-2769, or Web site:
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