AMBASSADOR FOR THE ARTS

Steve Bruni

Ambassador for the Arts Award winner: Steve Bruni joined the Delaware Art Museum in 1972 as a curatorial assistant and held a variety of positions until 1986 when he became Executive Director. Under his leadership attendance has more than doubled from 45,000 in the late 1980s to over 95,000 currently. In the 2004-05 Ultimate Guide to Delaware, published by Delaware Today, Bruni was acknowledged as one of the "35 Delawareans You Should Know."

Playing a central role in establishing the Delaware Arts Stabilization Fund, a model program in the development of state-wide endowments for arts organizations, Bruni led the group's corporate fundraising efforts to establish the $21.5 million fund. Eight of Delaware's major arts organizations are supported in some part by this fund. His many other achievements include initiating plans to hang art in the New Castle County Courthouse, and creating a Diversity Task Force at the Delaware Art Museum.

During Mr. Bruni's tenure, the Delaware Art Museum has presented over 100 major art exhibitions of regional, national, and international magnitude. He has been the motivation behind the current expansion and capital campaign for the newly designed museum which is scheduled to open in March 2005. Upon the museum's opening, he will retire after a total of 33 years of employment there.

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