EVANSVILLE, IND. (06/11/2025) The University of Evansville (UE) Department of Art has received $33,000 in grants from the Efroymson Family Fund. This generous funding will enhance visual arts programming, expand the University’s permanent art collections, and provide immersive, career-building experiences for students during the 2025-2026 academic year.
A grant of $23,000 will support four core initiatives: the Efroymson Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series ($9,000), a marketing intern ($2,000), a Bridge Year Fellowship ($10,000), and a Permanent Collections Intern ($2,000). A separate $10,000 grant will fund the acquisition and exhibition of urban and street art.
“This continued support allows us to grow meaningful opportunities for our students while strengthening our presence in the regional art community,” said Todd A. Matteson, Chair and Associate Professor of Art. “We are deeply grateful to the Efroymson Family Fund for investing in our vision for the future of the arts at UE.”
Now entering its fourteenth year, the Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series brings practicing artists from across the country to campus for multi-day residencies. These artists engage directly with students, share insights into their practice, and exhibit work in the Melvin M. Peterson Gallery.
The Bridge Year Fellowship provides recent graduates with studio space, mentoring opportunities, and teaching experience, preparing them for advanced study or professional careers in the arts. Marketing and Permanent Collections internships offer hands-on roles in gallery promotion, collections management, and event planning.
“These positions empower students to apply classroom learning to real-world settings while supporting the visibility and vibrancy of our programs,” Matteson added.
The additional $10,000 grant will allow the department to grow its new collection of urban and street art. Recent acquisitions include works by Shepard Fairey, Dot Dot Dot, and Joachim, gifted from the collections of Dan Mason and John Nordgauer. The funding will support further acquisitions, conservation efforts, and related programming.
“All contributions from the Efroymson Family Fund are fully allocated to these initiatives, ensuring every dollar makes a direct and lasting impact,” said Sylvia DeVault ’85, Senior Director of Major Gifts. “This support exemplifies the kind of partnership that elevates the student experience and fuels creative changemaking across campus and community.”
For more information about UE’s Department of Art, visit evansville.edu/art.
About the Efroymson Family Fund
The Efroymson Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, is committed to enhancing quality of life through investments in arts, education, and community development across the Midwest.
The University of Evansville is a private, comprehensive university with a solid foundation in the arts and sciences and professional schools in business, engineering, education, and health sciences. Established in 1854, UE is recognized across the globe for its rich tradition of innovative, academic excellence and dynamic campus community of #Changemakers.
Home of the Purple Aces, UE is located in the southwestern region of Indiana and offers over 75 majors, 17 Division I sports, and a unique study abroad experience at Harlaxton, the University’s very own Victorian manor located in the countryside of England. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.
