From Surviving to Thriving
FSU’s Danforth Art Museum and School receives transformative $4.6 million bequest from the Estate of Susan Litowitz
In May 2016, the future of the Danforth Art Museum and School was very much in doubt following a failed safety inspection at its longtime home on Union Avenue in Framingham. At that time, artist, trustee and patron Susan Litowitz emerged as one of the strongest supporters of the Danforth’s proposed merger with Framingham State University, which resulted in its reopening in the renovated Jonathan Maynard Building in 2019. Litowitz funded a number of projects that helped get the new building open, including a new website and part-time museum education position.
Now, less than a decade after the Danforth was nearly forced to close its doors forever, the cherished community museum and art school’s future has never been more secure, thanks to a $4.6 million bequest from the estate of Litowitz, who passed away in 2023.
“It’s wonderful to have had someone with so much faith in the organization,” says Danforth Museum Director and Curator Jessica Roscio. “Merging with FSU gave us stability, because we were closed and couldn’t reopen on our own. Susan’s gift gives us sustainability on top of that stability. We can continue to grow and do new things.”
Roscio and longtime Danforth Art School Director Noelle Fournier knew that Litowitz, who lived in Sudbury, MA, had included the Danforth in her estate. However, they did not learn until recently the amount of her gift, which is the largest in the organization’s 50-year history.
“With a gift of this magnitude, you not only feel so grateful, but there is also a huge sense of responsibility,” says Fournier.
“For so long, it’s felt like we’ve been in survival mode. Now we can really set ourselves up for the long term and invest in new ways to better serve our community.”
The gift is structured and restricted to serve four principal areas: operations and programming in the Litowitz Family Gallery in the museum, educational programming, marketing and community engagement, and financial aid for adult art students.
Framingham State University President Nancy S. Niemi says that she’s excited about the gift’s potential to impact the greater Framingham community.
“Framingham State and the Danforth have always existed to enrich and serve our community,” says President Niemi. “Susan’s gift will help us preserve and expand access to the transformative power of art. What an incredible legacy.”
Some of the first items completed with the new source of funding were upgrades to the building, including improved AV equipment and more accessible benches in the galleries.
“Better technology and seating are some of the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of items we’ve always needed but never budgeted for,” Roscio says, “something that has an immediate positive impact.”
Longer term, Fournier is looking at developing new classes for older adults that would be offered for free to those who cannot afford to pay. She is also excited to have funding available to dedicate toward marketing the Danforth.
“We definitely want to reach more people,” she says. “After we moved, a lot of people forgot we were around. We want to make sure the community knows about the opportunities available here.”
Roscio also said the team was planning to hold community listening sessions to find out what the public would like to see from the museum and school.
“We absolutely want community input on what the future of the Danforth should look like,” says Roscio.
One thing is certain, thanks to Litowitz and her family, that future has never felt more secure.
Students view artwork from the permanent collection at the Danforth Art Museum.
