The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) has announced a $10 million pledge from Adrienne Arsht in support of the MetLiveArts performance series. 

The largest single gift to the museum’s Department of Live Arts will fund activities that uplift and highlight themes of resilience through art. The department commissions and presents live and digital performances that explore contemporary issues and narratives.

A longtime supporter of the Met, Arsht has previously funded efforts to strengthen inclusivity, including the museum’s first-ever fully paid internship program and a diverse program of contemporary performance art. Resilience has been central to many of the projects Arsht has supported. Recent examples include a February 2022 production of Beethoven’s Fidelio by Heartbeat Opera, which celebrated the resilience of people in the face of injustice.

“My gift will make it possible for the work of the Department of Live Arts to continue to embrace resilience as a primary organizing principle, creating opportunities for trailblazing artists to conceive daring, innovative work and encouraging audiences to see the world through a different lens,” said Arsht. “I believe my gift will motivate artists to create art that will teach and endure for generations.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Pexels Charles Parker)