CHICAGO, IL.- Solveig Øvstebø, Executive Director of the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, announced today that the institution has received three leading gifts to its Next Century Fund, a campaign to strengthen the museum’s role in commissioning new artworks. The Edlis Neeson Foundation, the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, and the Zell Family Foundation have each pledged $500,000 to the renowned contemporary art museum for a total of $1.5 million. These donations represent the largest gifts in the Renaissance Society’s history.

Launched in conjunction with the Renaissance Society’s 100th anniversary in 2015, the Next Century Fund is a $5 million campaign that will enable the pioneering non-collecting museum to provide unparalleled support for ambitious artistic projects. The fund will underwrite a significant increase in the production of new works, and also further develop the Renaissance Society’s educational and publishing activities. Through generous donations such as these, the institution has already raised 65% of the overall goal for the fund.

Founded in 1915 by a group of University of Chicago faculty members, the Renaissance Society quickly established itself as one of the most important venues in the Midwest for the presentation of avant garde art, introducing audiences to the work of Calder, Cézanne, Léger, and many others. Today, “the Ren”—as it is affectionately known—produces internationally recognized exhibitions of a scope that is rare for an institution of its size. As it enters its second century, the museum seeks to act as a laboratory, encouraging experimentation, stimulating fresh ideas, and presenting projects that often would not be possible in the context of a commercial gallery or larger museum.

Øvstebø, who also serves as the museum’s Chief Curator, said, “Over its history the Renaissance Society has stayed resolutely small and focused, which gives us an incredible freedom and flexibility. My vision of the Ren as an engine for new artistic production allows us to concentrate on the present moment and to engage with artists who are addressing urgent and timely issues. These amazing gifts give us the resources to push the boundaries of art in new and unexpected directions.”

Board President Jorge Cauz added, “All of us at the Renaissance Society are deeply grateful to these generous donors for the trust they’ve placed in us and our work. In our 101st year, we have redoubled our commitment to exploring the critical questions that only art can address, and to supporting artistic creation from first thought to final presentation.”