Southern Methodist University has announced a $33 million pledge from the Dallas-based Meadows Foundation to the Algur H. Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.

The largest single financial gift ever received by SMU and the largest organizational grant ever made by the foundation includes $8 million to support faculty and student recruitment at the Meadows School and help maintain its facilities, and $25 million for the museum, which houses major works by El Greco, Vel�zquez, Murillo, Goya, Mir�, and Picasso.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the museum will receive $750,000 annually for exhibitions and an equal amount for acquisitions, not counting a $5 million matching grant for obtaining additional works of art. In addition, the grant will support an educational curator position, an expanded educational program, and special initiatives to be determined by the museum director.

Faced with dwindling attendance, museum officials expressed hope that the foundation's commitment would rejuvenate interest in the institution and its programs. "Steady funds will allow the museum to plan exhibitions several years out, and that's what draws the traffic," said SMU president Gerald Turner. "Many people will be introduced to the collection for the first time."