Dumke Foundation Pledges $250,000 for Ogden Contemporary Art Center

By Kelly Carper | Art Writer

This November, Ogden Contemporary Arts (OCA), formerly known as O1ARTS, will officially open its flagship exhibition space and contemporary art center at 455 25th Street in the historic Monarch building. The build-out, which is now underway, was made possible by a $250,000 contribution from the Dumke Foundation, naming the Center’s main gallery the “Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation Arts Garage.” This charitable foundation was established in 1958 and has advocated for non-profit organizations throughout the Intermountain region for 62 years, and this latest contribution shows its support for Ogden’s arts and culture community.

“We are deeply honored and grateful for support from the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation,” says OCA Executive Director Venessa Castagnoli. “With their contribution, we are able to proceed with our Art Center build-out, which is scheduled to open the fall of 2020. We also want to extend a big thank you to the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation for their initial contribution, without which, we would not have been able to secure the additional funds needed to complete this project.” OCA’s multi-use space at The Monarch will serve as a creative influence for the Ogden and Northern Utah community, drawing artists from all over the world for exhibitions and interactive programming. The new gallery will advance OCA's goal to be a nationally recognized art center that engages local artists with the wider contemporary art world. The OCA Center will host a soft opening this November and a grand opening in January 2021.

An ongoing funding campaign is in place to raise the additional $50,000 required to outfit the gallery. To support ongoing operations, community members can show their support by purchasing memberships or merchandise from OCA’s online store. Memberships begin at only $50 per year for individuals and $75 for a family and include perks such as VIP invites to special receptions and exhibition previews. A funding campaign for general operations and programming at the art center has also been established; learn how you can become a recognized donor at ocacenter.org.

Ogden Contemporary Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates and shares globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advanced arts programing in Ogden, Utah. OCA’s vision is to inspire local and regional artists through active involvement with the international contemporary art community. OCA strives to be viewed as a credible and internationally respected art establishment while empowering artists with the facilities, environment and experience to excel in their medium and enrich their lives.

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