The Cleveland Museum of Art has announced a $10 million gift from an anonymous donor in support of its vision for scholarship, artistic excellence, and community engagement.

The gift already has enabled the museum to establish two endowments — one to fund community engagement activities and the other to support interpretation of the museum's collections. The endowment for community engagement will be used to advance a comprehensive, multifaceted effort to connect the museum with the life of the community. The interpretation endowment, which completes the match portion of a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, will support the development of interpretive materials and tools, program modifications, and interactive technology updates designed to help museum visitors connect with various perspectives on works in the collection and their histories.

The funds also helped make possible the acquisition last December of the Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection of Deccan and Mughal Paintings, a private collection of ninety-five works from royal Islamic courts in India that juxtaposes Christian subjects alongside Hindu and Muslim themes.

"This incredibly generous gift really touches upon the fundamental initiatives of the Cleveland Museum of Art," said Fred Bidwell, the museum's interim director. "The establishment of the two endowments and the Benkaim Collection acquisition reflect the museum's mission and help to leverage this vision to optimally benefit its diverse communities. Adhering to the highest standards of excellence in scholarship, artistic excellence and community engagement, the museum can contribute to and enhance the quality of life of Northeast Ohio citizens and beyond."