Philbrook Museum Receiving COVID-19 Emergency Grant

The Philbrook Museum of Art is getting a big financial boost to help it navigate through the pandemic.

It is the only museum in Oklahoma selected for an emergency grant that it will share with 11 other mid-sized art museums.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the Philbrook Museum of Art will $731 thousand in emergency funds. The museum said right now arts and cultural institutions are vulnerable to financial fallout and face potentially permanent closures due to the global health crisis.

The foundation created the grant program to support art museums that are adapting to the unprecedented financial obstacles posed by worldwide pandemic.

“We are thankful for the generous support by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and honored to be including with these highly respected peers,” said Philbrook President and CEO Scott Stulen. “This gift comes at a time of tremendous need and will support our continued work to make Philbrook a welcoming, inclusive and relevant cornerstone of our community. It is also a recognition of our leadership innovative work to build the resilient museum of the future.”

In all, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is giving $24 million in emergency funds that will be split between 12 art museums in total.

The other museums receiving the grant money are in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts and Nevada.

The Philbrook's Villa and Gardens reopen to public September 30, but tickets are required.