Shepparton Art Museum Foundation welcomes a major donation of $250,000 to capital campaign.

Shepparton Art Museum Foundation and Shepparton Art Museum Ltd are pleased to announce a major contribution of $250,000 to the museum’s capital campaign from the Zurcas Family and the Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation.

The official public announcement of the contribution took place at Shepparton Art Museum on Friday 18 October. Representatives present from the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation and the Zurcas family acknowledged the key role the new SAM facility has played in supporting the thriving economy of the Greater Shepparton region.

Of his family’s contribution, Nick Zurcas says:

"Our family are pleased to be giving this gift and to partner with SAM, together with the Fairley Foundation. Our grandfather Bill came to Shepparton more than 80 years ago as a migrant from Greece. He established successful businesses in the Goulburn Valley and the Shepparton region, principally in agriculture, transport, hospitality and accommodation. By giving this gift to Shepparton we feel that as a family we are honouring his memory and giving back to the community he called home."

Clare Pullar, SAM Foundation Chair, says of the donation:

“This is a really significant milestone for SAM, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the very generous gift of $125,000 to the museum’s capital campaign from the Zurcas family, which has been matched by a further gift from the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation. At its beginning, our goal for the campaign was to reach $5M, but through the efforts and generosity of our community, we’re able to celebrate the completion of the capital campaign at a total of $7.4M raised. We can now celebrate this incredible gateway building to Shepparton, which houses a museum that is very significant for our region, our state, and the nation. We’re grateful to the Zurcas family, who set down roots here 80 years ago, for their donation, along with the support of the Fairley Foundation.”

ENDS

Pictured, L-R: SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy, SAM Foundation Chair Clare Pullar, Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation Chair Andrew Fairley AM, Sam Zurcas, Nick Zurcas, Peter Zurcas, SAM Development Manager Carmel Johnson, SAM Ltd Board Chair Steve Merrylees, SAM Director of Business Andrew Gooley. Photo: Shepparton Art Museum