The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff announced a $5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation toward transforming academic programs for visual artists through what the university calls “bold new learning and creative spaces.”
In a news release, UAPB Chancellor Anthony Graham said the donation is the largest single investment in school history.
“The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is profoundly grateful to the Windgate Foundation for this pivotal and historic gift,” Graham said. “This investment affirms the vital role of the arts in higher education and in the cultural life of our region. As we work to meet the needs of today’s artists, this gift allows us to construct a cutting-edge facility, expand opportunities for creativity, and foster an environment where our students can thrive as scholars, innovators and cultural leaders. The Windgate Foundation’s generosity strengthens our ability to prepare the next generation of artists who will shape Arkansas and beyond.”
The gift will fund construction of a new Art Tower at the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center, marking the facility’s first major renovation in more than three decades. The addition will redefine the center’s appearance and serve as a striking gateway for visitors arriving from the Martha Mitchell Expressway.
Rising as the tallest building on campus, the Art Tower will add classrooms and studio space to meet UAPB’s growing needs while expanding the university’s cultural footprint.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Other features include expanded classrooms and studio spaces with expansive wall of windows to provide abundant natural light, and modernized facilities to support enrollment growth and creative innovation.
This latest gift brings the Windgate Foundation’s investment in UAPB and the arts programs to nearly $8 million over the past decade, including $2 million for an endowed scholarship for first-generation students and more than $850,000 for art initiatives that engage young artists, students, and the community.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff through this investment to expand the capacity of its art department,” said Patricia Forgy, executive director at Windgate Foundation. “We believe that art not only connects us and deepens our understanding of the world, but that access to art is critically important in a student’s life. By supporting UAPB, we are helping to ensure that students can thrive in an environment that reflects their talent, history, and potential.”
UAPB Art Department Chair Karen DeJarnette said students at the university have “created brilliance with limited space, but the award marks a turning point.
“This expansion will finally give their creativity the room it deserves– from upgraded studios to gallery spaces where their work can truly shine.”
Said George Cotton Sr, vice chancellor for advancement: “The timing of the gift reflects the Windgate Foundation’s thoughtful approach of building a strong, long-term relationship that demonstrates UAPB’s ability to deliver on past investments. UAPB has been a cultural anchor for the Delta and a leader in advancing the arts across Arkansas for decades. This generous investment from the Windgate Foundation underscores that commitment and allows us to expand opportunities for students while deepening our impact on the state and the HBCU community.”
According to the news release, instructor John Howard secured state funding for what was then the largest fine arts facility in Arkansas at present-day UAPB in the mid-1960s. The Isaac S. Hathaway-John M. Howard Fine Arts Center opened in 1967 and was named for Hathaway, the founder of UAPB’s ceramics program, and Howard. It became the home of the art department, which Howard chaired until his passing in 1980.
The public can view artifacts and digital archives from the art department at the University Museum and Cultural Center.
Notable artist alumni include: Jeff Donaldson; a co-founder of the AfriCOBRA collective with pieces housed in institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Joseph Norman, internationally recognized artist and educator with works held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the High Museum of Art; Byron Vaughns, Emmy-award winning animator; and Kevin Cole, nationally recognized contemporary artist with work featured in major collections including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.