The Nassau County Museum of Art announced a $1 million donation from museum Trustee Harvey Manes, which will go toward renovating the museum’s teaching space, at their annual fall benefit Friday evening.
“Art is the great stimulus of life,” Manes said, as he spoke in front of a crowd of more than 30 people who made the trek to the museum despite the soggy weather. “Everyone has creative juices and everyone should go for art education.”
According to the museum, the Manes Family Art and Education Center will feature “teaching labs devoted to new media [and] community resources, hands-on art activities and indoor/outdoor classes that take full advantage of the museum’s expansive natural setting.”
Manes, an orthopedist from Old Westbury who studied art history in college, said he feels the Manes Center has the potential to become “one of the best art schools in Long Island.”
Likewise, museum Director Karl E. Willers spoke of how the Manes Center will be “a leading arts and education center for everyone in [the] community.”
“It is going to allow us the chance to expand and advance the [museum’s] education programs,” Willers said. “We’re very excited.”
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the museum’s art school.
Manes said he was “pleased with the opportunity to fund and repair the art school” after the damage it incurred.
The Manes Center is scheduled to open in 2016.
