Aug. 06, 2014

Detroit Institute of Arts
Toyota Motor North America

Toyota commits $1 Million to help the City of Detroit
and secure the Future of the Detroit Institute of Arts

 

Detroit, United States, August 6, 2014―The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) announced today that Toyota Motor North America pledged $1 million toward the DIA’s commitment to raise $100 million as part of a "grand bargain" that will help the City of Detroit emerge from bankruptcy, support city pensioners and protect the museum’s art collection for the public.

"Toyota has demonstrated its commitment to Detroit and Michigan by doing its part to secure the DIA’s future while helping Detroit’s retirees," said Eugene A. Gargaro Jr., DIA board chairman. "We are extremely grateful for Toyota’s generous support and know that it will motivate other donors and help pave the way for a bright future, both for the City of Detroit and the DIA."



"Detroit and the surrounding areas are vitally important to the automotive community. They deserve our support," said Simon Nagata, president of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. "Together we can find solutions to help Detroit become the healthy and vibrant community that reflects the spirit of its people. This commitment is a way to demonstrate our gratitude to the people who have built this industry and support us every day."

The grand bargain will provide Detroit’s pensioners more than $800 million from the DIA, local and national foundations and the State of Michigan over a 20-year period. The funds will be directed to a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and then disbursed for city pension payments over the next 20 years. As part of the grand bargain, the City of Detroit will transfer ownership of the DIA’s collection, building and related assets to the private nonprofit corporation that currently operates the museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Inc.



About Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33; see above), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.

Visit the DIA's website at www.dia.org/