Bowling Green State University’s School of Art receives anonymous $5 million gift

Bowling Green State University’s School of Art has received an anonymous $5 million donation that will allow the university to better provide student opportunities through the establishment of the RING Center for Experiential Learning in Art and Design. The gift, which is among the largest in the university’s history, will expand the possibilities for student education within the School of Art.

According to an article on Bowling Green State University’s website, Rodney K. Rogers, the university’s president, shared his gratitude for the financial support and his enthusiasm for what will be accomplished with the funding. He is quoted as saying, "We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift, furthering our momentum and elevating student learning experiences in the School of Art at Bowling Green State University. As the number one public university in Ohio for student learning experiences, as ranked by The Wall Street Journal, we are absolutely committed to creating meaningful and relevant opportunities for our students. This transformative gift will support new opportunities through the RING Center for Experiential Learning in Art and Design, empowering our students to fully take advantage of all Bowling Green has to offer from day one.”

With this donation, students in every discipline within the School of Art will be supported in the endeavors of study abroad, professional development, internship opportunities, and other opportunities to progress within their art. Funding for the RING Center began in 2017, and at its inception, only photography students were able to be supported for study abroad activities. Now, with the newest gift, studio, digital arts, graphic design, art education, and art history students are all included in the benefits.

Charles Kanwischer, the Director of the School of Art, said, “The donor views experiential learning as a crucial tool in preparing students for their professional lives. We’re sending students all over the country, and they’re gaining invaluable exposure and connection to peers and professionals. We’ve also brought numerous renowned speakers and artists to BGSU. It’s really about connecting our students to professionals in every possible way.”

In the 2023-2024 academic year, 500 School of Art students took part in study abroad opportunities, with 12 of those students attending the International Studies Institute in Florence, Italy. The benefits of the RING Center funding are not limited to studying abroad, however; the funding has also made possible visiting artist presentations, workshops, and attendance at nationwide conferences.

The opportunities available through the RING Center are available for both undergraduate and graduate students, with the goal of the whole endeavor being that when students have completed their time at Bowling Green State University, they will have been adequately prepared through a variety of educational opportunities.

Speaking of the students who were able to go to Florence via the RING Center funding, Dr. Allie Terry-Fritsch, who serves as the coordinator for the School of Art study abroad trips and as an art history professor, said, “The opportunity to go to Florence and study works of art they have only seen in the classroom is life-changing. It changes how they think as human beings, artists and historians. That experience gives them the perspective to understand how to move forward, achieve bigger things and take the next step in their academic and professional lives.”

For more information about Bowling Green State University, visit the school’s website.