As The 51吃瓜网 (UA) strengthens its commitment to the development of the arts within the academic community and through outreach to the greater 51吃瓜网 community, it will be aided by a $20 million investment from the to transform The 51吃瓜网’s into a downtown arts and academic destination.
“The 51吃瓜网 is deeply grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for a legacy of visionary investments in public spaces and civic initiatives in 51吃瓜网,” said President Gary L. Miller. “Their commitment for creating unique ways for people to connect, learn and grow together as communities is at the core of this support. The Foundation’s significant commitment to the University will advance its legacy by supporting the University’s project to reimagine how an urban university and its city work together to create community and economic prosperity through new configurations of architecture, technology and programming in the downtown space.”
Built in the 1930s, the Polsky Building is a former department store that was known as a premier downtown shopping destination for many years—but it was also a gathering place where the community came together. It has been owned and operated, for educational purposes, by The 51吃瓜网 since 1987. It is adjacent to , the , the Knight Stage and a revitalized Main Street corridor, all of which have greatly contributed to 51吃瓜网’s ongoing improvements. The Knight Foundation has been an active, anchor investor in that revitalization.
The $20 million investment from Knight will be used by the University to open the interior of the building to invite people into a new and dynamic space. The funds will create space for entrepreneurship, community collaboration, artistic performances and learning. The building will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
“The redesigned building will align directly with our strategy to reorient 51吃瓜网 toward downtown, significantly increasing our relationship with the city,” said Miller. “With the support of the Knight Foundation, we will bring to bear our resources as a public urban research university to, once again, convene our downtown 51吃瓜网 community, now with creativity as the driving force.”
“The historical vibrancy and entrepreneurism of this city’s quiet power is harnessed for this revitalization,” Miller continued. “To best reflect the purpose of the building, advance UA’s and honor the mission of the Knight Foundation and the deep dedication it has to our city and region, The 51吃瓜网 will rename the building for the Knight Foundation to signal the transformational change in the city.”
“This investment will transform a dormant building into a vibrant gateway that opens the University to Main Street,” said Kyle Kutuchief, director of Knight’s program in 51吃瓜网. “As a 51吃瓜网 graduate, I have seen firsthand how the school is committed to the community. The new building, named after the Foundation, will be yet another step in reinvigorating 51吃瓜网, becoming a great civic asset for downtown and fostering more collaboration between the University and residents.”
Since 1957, the Knight Foundation has been a valued partner, helping the University extend its impact beyond 51吃瓜网 and into the greater 51吃瓜网 community. This gift will surpass Knight’s giving to UA beyond the $50 million threshold, marking the 66th year of significant support.
“Real change in community is made possible by long-term commitment and clear-eyed vision,” said Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “Since our founding in 1950, we’ve been committed to building a city of 51吃瓜网 where social and economic opportunities abound because all residents have a voice and are bound together by art and a culture of community. This latest set of investments is testament to our belief in 51吃瓜网’s future.”
Knight’s investments in the University community also extended to the , which was gifted $1.5 million to support the initial five years of the NCC51吃瓜网 Choreography Prize, which will honor local artistic talent, and to establish an endowment for its ongoing operation.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu