DENVER, CO.-The Denver Art Museum announced today that it has exceeded the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation challenge to raise $1.5 million in support of conservation. The Mellon Foundation awarded the Museum $1.75 million in December 2005. Of that amount, $1.5 million was contingent upon the Museum raising an additional $1.5 million over the next two years for a total endowment of $3 million. The Museum completed the challenge campaign in December by raising $1,536,764 and received the final distribution of $566,486 from the Mellon Foundation in February 2007.

Overall, the endowment campaign received 19 gifts from 13 donors with a total of $213,450 in outright gifts. The campaign began and ended with gifts from an honorary trustee and great friend of the Museum, Robert L. Silber, who served as President of the Denver Art Museum ’s Board of Trustees from 1963 to 1971. During the eight years of his dedicated leadership, the Development Fund was established and the first museum building, designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti, became a reality. The endowment campaign was formally launched in January 2006 when the Museum received its first gift in the amount of $89,500 from the estate of Mr. Silber. With the closing and final distribution of the Silber estate in December 2006, the DAM received a second gift of $570,000, which concluded the campaign in half the time.

“Because Mr. Silber had a particular interest in conservation, it was only fitting that these funds be applied to the endowment and that the director of conservation, Carl Patterson , is rightfully named the Robert L. and Helen F. Silber Director of Conservation,” said Museum director Lewis Sharp. “The support of the Mellon Foundation helps to ensure the future success of a thriving conservation department with experts in the field and state-of-the-art equipment here at the Denver Art Museum.”

The second largest gift in support of the Mellon challenge was a bequest from Margaret Page. Gifts totaling over $558,000 from three insurance policies and an annuity balance were used to support the conservation endowment. A long-time volunteer at the DAM, Margaret Page had developed strong relationships with various volunteers and members of the staff.

In addition to the $1.5 million endowment, the Foundation made a gift of $250,000 to increase the Museum’s conservation staff and purchase necessary laboratory equipment to conduct more sophisticated treatments, research and analysis. The conservation team at the DAM took advantage of this cash donation by hiring a senior conservator and purchasing a microscope, fume hood, camera and suction table. A second conservator will be hired in 2008.

The award and funds raised came at a pivotal point during preparations for the opening of the Denver Art Museum ’s new Daniel Libeskind-designed Frederic C. Hamilton Building . The conservation department completed the treatment of hundreds of artworks displayed in the Hamilton Building galleries, oversaw the installation of 1,800 objects, maintained an acceptable museum climate in both buildings, prepared objects to move from North into the Hamilton Building storage area, and implemented a maintenance plan for new pieces of public art. In addition, a new collections center was completed, consisting of a storage facility, satellite lab, packing area, registration office, photography studio and file room.