The Figge Art Museum in Davenport turns 15 on August 6, 2020. In celebration of this milestone, the museum will have 15 days of virtual events from August 6-21 including performances, classes, behind-the-scenes tours, artist demonstrations and more! Museum admission will be FREE as the museum celebrates 15 years of serving the Quad Cities.
The public is invited to support the museum and celebrate by registering for 15th anniversary events at: www.figgeartmuseum.org. Events for all ages and interests are available and the museum is urging everyone in the Quad Cities to take part in this unique celebration designed to bring art and people together in fun and innovative ways. All proceeds support the Figge’s art and education programs, enabling the museum to bring art and people together at a time when our community needs it most.
With the museum successfully paying off the $3 million building debt this year, the 15 days of events will culminate with a live mortgage burning ceremony. The elimination of the mortgage was made possible thanks to the support of donors and community partners, including the Regional Development Authority, Scott County Regional Authority, Bechtel Trusts, John Deere Foundation and Quad City Bank & Trust.
The Figge opened its doors on August 6, 2005, and is the renamed successor to the Davenport Museum of Art, which opened on October 10, 1928, as the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery. The building was designed by British architect David Chipperfield and is one of his first architectural commissions in the United States. The Figge Art Museum gets its name from the V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Foundation, which donated $13 million towards its $47 million construction.
In 2019, the Figge served over 86,000 people, including visitors from all fifty states and many foreign countries. Its exhibitions feature world-renowned artists, both traditional and contemporary, and its education programs serve 3,400 Quad Cities students who come for tours with their classes, and nearly 17,000 students who participate in the Big Picture Outreach Program in their classrooms.
“Over the past 15 years, the museum has become a centerpiece of downtown Davenport,” said Figge Executive Director and CEO Michelle Hargrave. “The Figge offers world-class exhibitions, engaging interactions with art, as well as innovative programs and brings our community together to build relationships, foster dialogue, and enhance well-being. As we move forward, we will continue to build upon the foundation of the past and grow our offerings in creative ways, particularly during this challenging and unprecedented time, and we look forward to our next period of growth and adventure with you.”
In conjunction with the 15th anniversary events, an online auction of art pieces and experiences will be taking place at: https://figgeartmuseum.betterworld.org/auctions/15th-anniversary-auction. Art pieces by Ellen Wagner, Tim Schiffer, Hot Glass, Rob Lipnick, George Olson, Steve Sinner and Didier William will be open for online bidding with all proceeds benefitting the Figge Art Museum. Experiences – including a membership to the Outing Club, a half-hour performance by pianist Julian Gargiulo, the opportunity to adopt a portrait in the Figge’s For America major exhibition, an in-home dinner with Chef Stu from Zeke’s Island Café, a party at Up at the Current Iowa, a private art session and a birthday party at the Figge – will also be available for bidding.
“We cannot wait to not only celebrate 15 years of the Figge, but also the community and local partners who support our efforts and make it all possible,” said Figge Director of Development Sara Volz. “We are excited to be able to continue our mission and celebrate this magnificent milestone through virtual events and are so grateful for all the community support us as we ring in 15 years and many more to come.”
As the Figge continues to navigate these uncertain times and work to recover the significant financial loss due to the temporary closure and cancellation of in-person events, the museum is excited to announce a 15th anniversary match challenge to coincide with the celebration. Thanks to the support of Tom and Jennifer Figge, any donation made between August 6-21 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000. Visit https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Figge to make your donation today.
The 15th anniversary celebration is just one example of how the Figge staff has adapted to changing times. In addition to all of the virtual offerings to celebrate the 15th anniversary, the museum also has a Virtual Museum that offers ways to connect to the museum from the comfort of home. From virtual art exhibitions and educational art videos to audio tours and art prompts, there are a number of ways to engage.
Join the Figge and the Quad Cities community as the Figge rings in 15 years of serving YOU. Don’t forget to register for an event today at: www.figgeartmuseum.org. Now is the time to come together and show your love for the Figge.
15th Anniversary Event List:
- August 6-21: Virtual Yoga
Sponsored by Whitey’s Ice Cream and Genesis Health System
- August 7: Beyond the Galleries – In Person
Sponsored by Sue Quail - August 8: Art Scavenger Hunt – In Person
Sponsored by Sam Skorepa and Abbey Furlong
- August 8: Performance by Pianist Julian Gargiulo – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by John Gardner and Cathy Weideman
- August 9: Illustrations for Kids with Chuck Morris – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Global Partners Alliance, LLC
- August 10: Monster Mosaics Class – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Quad City Bank & Trust
- August 11 & 25: Quilt Block Class – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Quilt Stitching by Shelly, Kern Chiropractic, Strickly Southern Bar-B-Que, Orange Blossom Quilt Design Studio, LLC
- August 12: Steve Sinner – Wood Turning Demo and Q&A – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by The Trimble Family and Trimble Pointe Companies
- August 13: Tour of William Louis Dreyfus Collection – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Xenotronics Company
- August 14: Hot Glass – In Person
Sponsored by Mark and Barb Zimmerman
- August 14: Hot Glass – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Mark and Barb Zimmerman
- August 15: Beyond the Galleries – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Sue Quail
- August 16: Edouard Duval-Carrié Studio Tour and Q&A – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Linda and J. Randolph Lewis
- August 18: John Deere Art Collection Tour and Discussion – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Medix Dental
- August 19: Caribbean Cooking Class – VIP (FOOD INCLUDED) – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Andy and Debi Butler
- August 19: Caribbean Cooking Class with Chef Stu – VIRTUAL
Sponsored by Andy and Debi Butler
- August 20: The Art of Beer
Sponsored by Five Cities Brewing and Central Standard
- August 21: Finale
Sponsored by The Singh Group – Merrill Lynch
About the Figge Art Museum:
The Figge Art Museum is located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made at www.figgeartmuseum.org or by calling 563-345-6632. Reservation times are available at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 3 p.m. on Tuesday-Saturday; Thursdays there is also a 5:30 p.m. slot available for all. The 10 a.m. reservation period Tuesday-Friday will be reserved for those who are high-risk visitors. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID and $4 children ages 4- 12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and to all on Thursday evenings and FREE TO ALL August 6-21. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.
This story originally appeared on the Voice of Muscatine. Read More local stories here.
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