A grant from the Bob Crewe Foundation for $216,000 will allow MECA&D to invest in additional programming and curricular offerings over the next three years. Thanks to a transformational $3 million gift in October of 2015, MECA&D was able to endow the first academic credit bearing program dedicated to exploring relational dynamics between music, art and design.
Specifically, the additional $216,000 grant will allow for increased staffing for the Bob Crewe Gallery to be open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as offering extended hours every First Friday and the general flexibility to accommodate special requests, groups and external partnerships. The grant will also support curricular programming and facility upgrades.
"We're grateful to the Bob Crewe Foundation for the significant investment that it has made in the college,” said Interim President, Stuart Kestenbaum, “which will allow us to build on the great work that's been happening since the start of the program last year. Under the direction of Ian Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, and Erin Hutton, MECA&D’s Director of Exhibitions and Special Projects, we're planning an expanded schedule of innovative exhibitions that can engage both our students and the public."
Over the past 18 months, over 12% of MECA&D’s student body participating in one or more of the 15 new courses offered, ranging from songwriting and sound art to music production technology
Dan Crewe, Bob’s brother and current member of MECA&D’s Board of Trustees, believes MECA&D’s mission of educating artists for life is more important than ever. “The Foundation is thrilled to be able to support MECA&D by empowering artists to realize their talents and goals” he said. “We are pleased to be able to fuel the next generation of creative talent by providing a dynamic setting to explore art and music.”
For more information or to schedule an interview with Stuart Kestenbaum or Dan Crewe, please contact Raffi Der Simonian at 207.699.5010 or rdersimonian@meca.edu.