Buffalo, NY – Mayor Byron W. Brown announced a major investment in the future Buffalo Albright-Knox-
Gundlach Art Museum (Buffalo AKG Art Museum) today. The City of Buffalo has pledged $2.5 million to
AK360, one of the most ambitious fundraising initiatives in the 156-year history of one of Buffalo’s largest
cultural organizations.
Mayor Brown stated, “The Buffalo Albright-Knox-Gundlach Art Museum is a major part of our City’s twentyfirst-
century renaissance and our thriving arts community, bringing world-class art and arts education to
Buffalo for 156 years. Providing this support for the future public park and public infrastructure on the
grounds of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum campus is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I thank Dr.
Janne Sirén and members of the Albright-Knox Board for their enhanced commitment to diversity in the
AK360 plan, and for sharing my commitment to ensure that the campus is an enriching haven for all people
of Buffalo seeking inspiration, culture and social interaction. ”
Mayor Brown’s funding commitment, which will be matched dollar for dollar by investor Jeffrey Gundlach,
will be earmarked for the enhancement of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, as well as public
infrastructure, consistent with the museum’s campus development and expansion design created by
internationally renowned landscape architect Michael Van Valkenberg, the same designer recently selected
to design Buffalo’s largest waterfront park – the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, formerly LaSalle
Park. These enhancements are needed to properly house the museum’s growing collection of modern
and contemporary masterworks, mount rotating special exhibitions, and present a dynamic array of
complementary educational programs.
Janne Sirén, Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery said, “The AK360 Campus
Development and Expansion project aspires to transform this museum into a more welcoming environment
and social space for everyone to enjoy, and today we are honored by Mayor Brown’s commitment to these
ideals. Our identity as an institution is continually reshaped by those who so generously support our
efforts. We are profoundly grateful to Mayor Brown and the City of Buffalo for recognizing the significant
potential this project holds for our area and its residents, and we are confident that the reinvigorated
Buffalo Albright-Knox-Gundlach Art Museum will be a tremendous resource for all citizens.”
Alice Jacobs, Board President of the Albright-Knox, said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the museum,
I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Mayor Brown and the Buffalo Common Council for their deep
commitment and partnership in this transformative project. Under Mayor Brown’s leadership, the City of
Buffalo continues to flourish. The AK360 project will continue community’s revitalization as a wonderful
place to live, work, and grow.”
Since 2006, Mayor Brown has continued to grow Buffalo into an efficient, diverse and equitable City
of Opportunity in neighborhoods citywide that has resulted in an economic revitalization that has put
Buffalo in the global spotlight. Under his leadership, the City has made and continues to make significant
investments in Buffalo’s vibrant arts and cultural scene, continuing Mayor Brown’s commitment to funding
the arts, acquisitions, restorations and partnerships.
Mayor Brown has teamed up with Dr. Sirén and the Albright-Knox on a number of art initiatives that
promote diversity, including the museum’s focus on the work of black women artists, celebrated in the
exhibit, We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965-85.
The City, in partnership with Erie County, also sets aside annual funds to help offset the cost of a curator
position at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum Campus. Curator Aaron Ott has led the installation of more than
30 works of public art across the region.