Ringling seeks donations to complete library funding

Ringling College of Art and Design has announced a pair of donations that, if matched by the public, would allow the school to reach its $16 million fundraising goal to construct a new library.

Ringling President Larry Thompson announced the matching donations at Monday’s Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Series lecture. One of the donations, made anonymously, will match up to $1 million in funding toward the project. The other, made by the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, will match donations up to $30,000.

If the two matching challenges are met, the college will complete its $16 million “Beyond the Boundaries” Library Campaign. In a release, Thompson said construction could begin this spring if the campaign was finished by May 31, allowing the library to open a year ahead of schedule. The three-story, 46,000-square-foot building will be constructed at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Old Bradenton Road.

“Thanks to the Library Association and their supporters, we are now close to the summit,” Thompson said in the release.

Those interested in donating should contact the Ringling College Library Campaign at 309-0117, or via email at [email protected].

Contact David Conway at [email protected].