It’s all “ups” for Downing in new fundraising job at Figge Art Museum
Patrick Downing is a sterling musician, passionate about wonderful arts and seasoned in fundraising.
So it is fitting that the 35-12 months-previous Western Illinois College alum is the new director of growth at the Figge Artwork Museum, soon after virtually a few many years in a comparable position for Davenport-primarily based Palmer School of Chiropractic.
Downing was just one of a few growth directors at Palmer (focusing on the Midwest), which has campuses in Davenport, San Jose, Calif., and Port Orange, Fla. At the Figge (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport), this 7 days he succeeded Sara Volz – who still left about Thanksgiving to grow to be govt director for the foundation started out by Iowa-centered professional golfer Zach Johnson.
“I understood that I needed to remain in fundraising,” Downing (a pianist, singer and actor who worked for West Music 10 a long time) stated Tuesday. “I had a remarkable practical experience at Palmer College. I knew there was an possibility in undertaking advancement work, doing work with exceptional individuals passionate about their group, and if an opportunity like that in the Quad Towns great arts arrived up, I would pursue that.”
When the Figge occupation grew to become out there, he leapt at the chance, and Downing claimed he wouldn’t be at the art museum with out his beneficial time at Palmer – which will be celebrating its 125th anniversary this September. He explained the neighborhood will be blown absent by what the college or university has in store for their large celebration.
“Of the numerous matters I have uncovered about performing with Palmer’s fantastic alumni is that they are between the most passionate and focused men and women to a particular career that I have ever fulfilled,” Downing posted on Facebook. “Their devotion and enthusiasm of chiropractic care and assisting individuals of all ages reside their ideal life doable has been — and carries on to be — encouraging and inspirational.
“As my qualified vocation now guides me back again toward my passion and really like of the good arts, my goal is to provide their kind of power and pleasure to my new placement at the Figge,” he wrote. “I’m so appreciative to so numerous Palmer alumni for their support of the college or university and the pupils, their kindness, and their friendship.”
Downing admires the Figge mission statement: “Bringing art and men and women collectively. We enrich our local community with the encounter of artwork through training, collections, exhibitions and preservation.”
“As a citizen of the Quad Towns for practically 13 decades, it has often been extraordinary to see the Figge carry their assertion to lifestyle, and I simply cannot wait to help their staff progress this mission all over our community and outside of,” he explained.
Appreciation for the museum partnerships
“One of quite a few issues that psyched me about the Figge is their involvement with the Quad-Town community, the support it receives from the location and the collaboration the Figge has with so a lot of treasured businesses in the Quad Cities,” Downing claimed. “That really fired up me, and it’s been wonderful to be back in the entire world of the arts.”
As the to start with chiropractic university in the entire world (started in 1897), Palmer awards a lot more scholarships than any these types of university in the state, Downing mentioned. It’s concentrated on a lot of money projects and rising its endowment in the previous number of decades.
“I went from just a environment-course crew at Palmer Higher education to a environment-class staff at the Figge,” he claimed Tuesday. “In my 3 a long time at Palmer, I built lifelong mates and colleagues. I have only been at the Figge two times, but there’s no question it will be the exact matter. They have provided me a heat welcome to the museum.
For practically 10 several years (right up until April 2019), Downing labored at West Audio in Moline as a Qualified Piano Marketing consultant and Institutional Product sales Consultant.
“This new situation looks a excellent relationship of the careers I experienced prior to — the extraordinary fundraising employees at Palmer School having to know so many remarkable people today in the arts local community though at West Audio,” he said. “It’s a fantastic marriage of the two of them.
“I am beyond humbled that the Figge considered me, and requested me to be portion of their team,” Downing said. “I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to work with this incredible group, for one of the most treasured cultural beacons of the Quad Towns and the overall Midwest.”
The museum is also an uplifting, inspiring place of work, due to the fact there is so a lot gorgeous artwork on the partitions, he mentioned.
“We have an place of work natural environment, in which we can get our operate finished, but if you want to glimpse at globe-course artwork, you only stroll out the door,” Downing stated.
He’s continue to having accustomed to his new tasks, and described the Figge’s range fund is a principal priority.
The museum is in the midst of elevating $100,000 for a new Art Range and Equity Fund supposed to fight systemic inequality in the artwork world, like diversifying the Figge’s assortment. The fund was launched past July with a lead reward from locals Jim and Michelle Russell of Russell Design.
“That’s a mission that we have really intensely at the Figge and we’re particularly thankful for the Russells and what they did last calendar year,” Downing stated.
He and his spouse Kristena live in Davenport with their three sons, ages 6, 2, and just about five months.
For more facts on the Figge, pay a visit to their web site.