Pictured from left to right inside Corinthian Hall at the Kansas City Museum on May 10,
2017, Mr. Henry Bloch, Mr. Edward T. Matheny, Jr., and Mr. Bill Dunn, Sr. Photo by JIM BARCUS
The Kansas City Museum Foundation announced today the honorary leadership for “Making A Museum KC” (#MakingAMuseumKC), the Foundation’s innovative fundraising initiative and capital campaign to increase awareness, raise private funding, and build community support for the Kansas City Museum’s leading-edge, multi-phased renovation project to create a premier museum of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage. The Honorary Chairs of #MakingAMuseumKC include: Mr. Bill Dunn, Sr., Mr. Edward T. Matheny, Jr., and Mr. Henry Bloch, who have been close friends and colleagues in Kansas City for more than 40 years. They are WWII veterans, and they have been dedicated to arts, history, culture, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship in Kansas City. As Honorary Chairs, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Matheny, and Mr. Bloch will work with the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Museum Foundation to strategically develop #MakingAMuseumKC and guide its priorities.
“I couldn’t be more honored, grateful, and proud for the Kansas City Museum to have the support and endorsement of these three extraordinary and esteemed leaders, who have accomplished so much and whose legacies individually and collectively have significantly contributed to Kansas City’s history and development,” Kansas City Museum Executive Director Anna Marie Tutera said. “As the Kansas City Museum aims to become a nationally recognized museum of Kansas City’s local and regional history, the wisdom and experience of Mr. Dunn, Mr. Matheny, and Mr. Bloch will illuminate our path forward.”
Adding to the #MakingAMuseumKC honorary leadership, the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks Department—which operates and manages the Kansas City Museum—has also enlisted the guidance and support of another legendary trio: Mrs. Anita Gorman, Mr. Ollie Gates, and Mr. Carl DiCapo to serve as Honorary Members. From 1986 to 1991, Mrs. Gorman, Mr. Gates, and Mr. DiCapo served together as Parks Commissioners. Collectively, they were responsible for the revitalization of Starlight Theatre, the Kansas City Zoo, and the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
“As KC Parks celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2017, we are thrilled to have our former Parks Commissioners representing the important legacy of the Kansas City Parks system,” Parks Director Mark McHenry said. “These venerated civic leaders will contribute their commitment and vision once again to another major Kansas City cultural asset and community anchor,” Parks Board President Jean-Paul Chaurand stated.
In advance of officially launching #MakingAMuseumKC, the Kansas City Museum Foundation already has raised $1 million in private funds for Stage I Construction, which includes the restoration and renovation of Corinthian Hall into a leading-edge 21st century history museum with exhibit galleries, programming and education spaces, interactive technologies, a museum café and demonstration kitchen, museum retail store, contemporary thematic art installations, and many other amenities.
Of the $1 million already raised, $500,000 is a lead pledged grant from the R.A. Long Foundation and will name the Grand Hall on the first floor of Corinthian Hall the “R.A. Long Foundation Grand Hall.” More details on #MakingAMuseumKC will be available in June 2017 when the Kansas City Museum Foundation launches a comprehensive website at www.makingamuseumkc.org that features the Museum’s renovation project. Currently, www.makingamuseumkc.org is a landing page for becoming a Museum member and learning more about the Kansas City Museum Foundation.
BACKGROUND
Located at 3218 Gladstone Boulevard in the Historic Northeast community of Kansas City, Missouri, the Kansas City Museum is comprised of five original buildings, including the mansion Corinthian Hall, which was built in 1910 by Robert Alexander Long. The estate became a public museum in 1940. It is owned by the City of Kansas City, Missouri and operated and managed by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department. The Collection contains more than 100,000 artifacts and several thousand more archival materials that interpret Kansas City’s local and regional history.
The Kansas City Museum is in the process of architectural design development to create a premier museum of Kansas City’s history through a multi-year, multi-staged restoration and renovation project. International Architects Atelier is the lead architectural design firm, and J.E. Dunn Construction Co. is the Construction Manager. Museum Management Consultants produced the Museum’s Strategic and Business Plans, which were adopted in Fall 2016, and Gallagher & Associates produced the Museum’s Visitor Experience Plan that provides the parameters for exhibition design and development.
The Kansas City Museum Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to develop initiatives, convene leaders, and mobilize resources through inclusive partnerships to support the mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities of the Kansas City Museum.