Preston Haskell says he’s “very fond” of contemporary art.
He has an extensive private collection, has been a mainstay on the arts scenes and is a longtime supporter of Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
On Tuesday, that support went even further. Haskell and museum officials announced he was giving $5 million to jumpstart the institution’s endowment.
“It’s never had much of an endowment,” Haskell said afterward. “What I’ve done is just a starter kit.”
Marcelle Polednik, museum director and chief curator, said Haskell’s gift is a “significant milestone” but just the first part to achieve financial sustainability. The goal is for the endowment to reach $20 million, although there is no capital campaign yet.
She said conversations with Haskell have taken place over the past year, culminating with the decision to make an announcement in early January.
That would launch a year in what she and other supporters hope is “the beginning of a renaissance.”
Haskell said the timing was right. The museum’s Downtown building, its affiliation with the University of North Florida and leadership had fallen into place over the past 10 years.
The endowment, he said, really is the last missing piece toward long-term success in the community.
The gift has no restrictions. Polednik said the goal will be to use it to deepen what the museum does and support programming. Haskell’s gift bumps the endowment to about $6 million, she said.
The donation is one of the largest from an individual contributor to a cultural organization in the city’s
history, museum officials said.
Haskell said he hopes it inspires others to contribute and he believes there are “several six- and seven-figure” gifts quietly being discussed by others.
Once the endowment reaches the $10 million range, he said there could be a more public push to hit the goal.
The announcement comes days before the museum unveils its next major self-curated exhibit, “WHITE” that runs until the end of April.
Haskell said he’ll be in attendance for the opening, just like he tries for all the museum’s launches.
“I always try to make it,” he said.
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