The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has announced a $1.5 million gift from collectors and philanthropists Dean and Helga Toriello to establish the museum’s first-ever endowed position.

The funding will permanently support the curatorial position and enable the curator’s work in key areas such as exhibition development, research, collection stewardship, programming, and interpretation. Held by Jennifer Wcisel, the Dean and Helga Toriello Curator of Collections and Exhibitions position will lead the museum’s program of rotating exhibitions and collection installations, as well as facilitates the growth of GRAM’s permanent collection of 6,700 objects.

“The Grand Rapids Art Museum is immensely grateful to Dean and Helga Toriello for their generous support and bold leadership in establishing the first endowed position at GRAM,” said GRAM director and CEO Cindy Foley. “The first of its kind, this gift endowing the lead curator position is an important moment in the museum’s over 120-year history, ensuring dynamic, impactful exhibition programming and world-class curatorial talent for many years to come.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/smontgom65)