THE DRCFA ART FOUNDATION RECEIVES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HUBERT MASSEY FRESCO AT COBO CENTER

July 20, 2017

Several Organizations Give Contributions in Support of Commissioning Legacy Piece

DETROIT, MI (20 July 2017) – The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and the DRCFA Art Foundation announced today it received new gifts in support of renowned Detroit artist Hubert Massey’s 30’ x 30’ fresco painting within Cobo Center. The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, which represents thousands of carpenters across the state of Michigan, is donating $30,000 towards the larger-than-life mural. Additional funding includes $50,000 from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and $37,000 from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation contributed $7,500 to the DRCFA Art Foundation helping them towards their $510,000 goal. The DRCFA contributed $60,000 towards the Hubert Massey piece.  Additional donations to the DRCFA Art Foundation for the Fresco project can also be made online here.

“We are very grateful for the support from the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Lisa Canada, DRCFA Vice Chair and DRCFA Art Foundation Chair. “Through this fresco, we hope to share Detroit’s culture, history and accomplishments to the nearly 1.4 million visitors who come to Cobo Center annually. We are one step closer to achieving this goal thanks to the generosity from these remarkable organizations.”

The new legacy piece will be a permanent large-scale mural within Cobo Center featuring many positive regional stories. The fresco, titled “Detroit: Crossroad of Innovation,” visually and vibrantly depicts the city in a timeline of fascinating heritage that can be recognized as a source of pride for generations to come. This public art work will reflect the region’s people and values by carefully incorporating symbols and prominent images reflecting Detroit’s pride and enduring influences from past, present and toward the future. A community advisory committee, which included professionals from different communities and a local high school art student, was established to help Massey identify key themes to be featured within the fresco. Massey is a Kresge Artist Fellow and holds an honorary doctorate degree from Grand Valley State University.

The mural is part of a new, ambitious public art project launched by the DRCFA and the new DRCFA Art Foundation. The full-scale cartoon drawing of Massey’s upcoming fresco was unveiled in September 2016. The actual fresco will soon be underway. Cobo Art and the fresco project are funded through the DRCFA Art Foundation (501c3).

The DRCFA Art Foundation’s initiative has Detroit’s Cobo Center joining major convention centers throughout the country featuring public art including cities such as Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. Cobo Center’s curator is Maureen Devine. Located downtown on the beautiful Detroit Riverfront, Cobo Center is one of the largest convention centers in the nation offering 723,000 square feet of exhibit space.

About the DRCFA

On 9/15/09, operational control of Cobo Center transferred to the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, under a collaborative agreement by the Michigan State Legislature, the City of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Each of these entities has an appointed member on the DRCFA Board. Larry Alexander is the appointee of the Governor of the State of Michigan and serves as Chairman of the Board. For more information visit: http://www.drcfa.org/.

About the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights

The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights represents 14,000 carpenters and millwrights across the state of Michigan. Member carpenters help build diverse projects, large and small, residential and commercial. Union millwrights work with precision machinery, installing and maintaining everything from conveyor systems to turbines and generators. Members work closely with contractor partners across the state. For more information, please visit http://hammer9.com/.

About the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) strengthens arts and culture in Michigan by increasing its visibility; supporting arts education; encouraging new, creative and innovative works of art; and broadening cultural understanding. A key conduit for arts and cultural information, MCACA is also a source of arts and culture grant funding. For more information, please visit http://www.michiganbusiness.org/community/council-arts-cultural-affairs/.

About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs.  Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed nearly $941 million through more than 61,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties.  For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.       

About the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation

Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation. Giving primarily for the arts, with emphasis on an art museum; funding also for education, health care, human services, community development, and federated giving programs.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. For more information, please visit https://www.arts.gov/about-nea.

About Cobo Center:

With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Cobo Center boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 17th largest convention center in the country.  Visit online at www.cobocenter.com.

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Media Contacts:

Heather George, 313-832-2210, 248-417-5773 (mobile), hgeorge@loviogeorge.com

Sara Campbell, 313-832-2210, 315-727-3280 (mobile), scampbell@loviogeorge.com