Posted: Thursday, July 8, 2021

The University of Evansville is grateful to receive support for the Department of Art from the Efroymson Family Fund. The generous gift from the family, which is in place for the 2021-22 academic year, will not only fund existing traditions within the department but also create new opportunities for art students. 

“We are really excited to create a more impactful learning experience for our art students, thanks to the Efroymson Family Fund,” said Todd Matteson, chair of the Department of Art. “Their contributions help us in preparing our students to be successful not just at UE, but beyond the classroom.” 

With the support from the fund, the department will continue to welcome an artist to Evansville each semester as part of the Efroymson Family Emerging Contemporary Artists Lecture Series. The artist’s pieces will be on display in the Melvin Peterson Gallery as well as the Krannert Gallery. Art students are able to interact with professional artists through lectures and workshops, and the public is invited to view the galleries. 

Each year, the fund supports a marketing internship for a current art student. One intern is selected each semester, and the student works closely with the department chair. The paid internship provides beneficial, hands-on experience, as the student will design print and digital materials that assist with recruitment, exhibitions and receptions, and departmental advertising. 

The Efroymson Family Fund will, for the first time, provide a Bridge Fellowship Program for the upcoming academic year. This new program will deliver invaluable experience for a recent graduate for the Department of Art who wishes to pursue further education. They will work on research and assist with studio management and teaching. The fellow will also receive a studio space and exhibit their research. The assistance performed by the Bridge Year Fellow will allow current art faculty to dedicate more time to classrooms, student mentorship, and artwork. 

“The University is tremendously grateful for the ongoing support from the Efroymson family,” said Sylvia DeVault, corporate and foundation relations officer for UE. “For ten years now, they have been supporters of the arts, which has created a lasting impact on our campus and in the Evansville community.” 

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