Final Rahilly.qxp - The Wadsworth Atheneum

Susan A. Rottner, President
In 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, A Everett Austin, Jr. opined that
“…the appreciation of works of art serves…to allay for some moments the
worry and anxiety in which we all share.” It is uplifting to know that over the
past twelve months, when the world experienced a challenging financial collapse,
the gravity of which has not been witnessed since the 1930s, the Wadsworth
Atheneum continued as a thriving and stable institution, ensuring that the
legacy we leave to future generations will be a strong one.
At the outset of the crisis, the museum implemented swift budgetary
measures in a determined effort to reduce costs. Despite these difficult meas-
ures, we remained committed to our artistic mission and to upholding the trust
placed in us by our community. We continued to pursue a high caliber exhibi-
tion program, added new art work to our extensive permanent collection and
expanded our programming to include free admissions the last Saturday of
every month.
R E P O R T
from the President
One of my main goals as the incoming Board President was to motivate
deeper involvement by the museum’s Trustees and auxiliary groups. The Atheneum
family responded energetically and faithfully to the call for engagement. Nowhere
was this renewed spirit of service more evident than in the responses to the dete-
riorating economic climate. The results of this broad display of commitment were
evident in the events, programs and exhibitions that met or surpassed revenue
goals and engaged new visitors with the museum.
At a time when many museums canceled planned building projects, the
Wadsworth began a much needed renovation of our historic campus, funded
through the generosity of the state of Connecticut’s Department of Economic
and Community Development and through a grant from the William and Alice
Mortensen Foundation. This renovation is an important first step in our strate-
gy of preserving and conserving the museum’s renowned collections and ensur-
ing that we continue to be a good steward of our existing facilities.
The Ballets Russes:
Celebrating the Centennial
All tenses of time conjoin at the Wadsworth Atheneum, an institution
which continuously honors its historic past, while living in the present and
planning for the future. As we continue to devise both short and long term strate-
gies to preserve our financial stability and enhance the museum’s position as a
cultural leader both locally and internationally, we remain fully committed to
the constituents who help make our visions a reality through their unwavering
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support.
To all of the members, friends, patrons, and devotees of this museum—
you have my sincere gratitude. I encourage you to maintain your vital support
—particularly now, as institutions like ours play a critical role as a place of per-
manence, encouragement, enlightenment, escape and enjoyment during these
uncertain times.
S u s a n A . R o t t n e r