Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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An example for the community

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  • This short article of 1975 announces the distribution of the Hope Robertson Memorial Fund to three Asheville area art institutions.
  • An Example For The Community When Mrs. Hope Robertson Norburn died here in September, 1973, Asheville lost a vigorous member and supporter of its artistic community. She was a painter, sculptor and writer, and she wanted many people to share her delight in the pleasures produced from creative minds, including theater, dance and music. Last week Asheville's Civic Arts Council, the organization designed to support and coordinate the many local cultural activities, was able to give further expression to Mrs. Norburn's interest in the arts by distributing $32,- 000 from the Hope Robertson Memorial Fund to three institutions that have been, and will be, centers of the areas's artistic life. The Asheville Art Museum received $20,000 to be used when it moves into its new home in the Civic Center within the next few months. The Asheville Community Theatre, which received $10,000 from the fund before its new theater was opened in August, 1973, was granted another $10,000 to be used toward an ad dition that will be "a suitable permanent memorial." The remaining $2,000 was contributed to the Warren Wilson College community arts center, now being planned. These generous gifts testify to the community spirit of a whole family. Mrs. Norburn's mother, in whose honor the fund was named, established it with a sum she hoped would be used in a building for the theater arts. Mrs. Norburn added her own contributions, beginning in the 1950s, as did her father, the late Reuben B. Robertson, and the Norburn children gave still more. This thoughtful generosity, enriching the life of many thousands, is true patronage of the arts. It has helped sustain a great variety of special projects and performances by member organizations of the Civic Arts Council. It is an example we hope others will be inspired to follow, for the endless benefit of everyone who shares the community's intellectual treasure.