The grant was made in honor of Thomas S. “Tom” Kenan III ’59 and recognizes his nearly 50 years of dedication to the arts. (William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust)
A catalytic $20 million grant from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust will help realize a major expansion of the Ackland Art Museum and create new possibilities for how people experience the arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Made in honor of Thomas S. “Tom” Kenan III ’59, the grant recognizes his nearly 50 years of dedication to the arts. The grant will also provide an opportunity for Carolina to bring its cultural spaces, programs and experiences together in new ways.
With this funding, the University will explore how architecture, landscape and public space could build on existing arts and cultural experiences to strengthen connections among them. The University aims to honor Kenan’s impact as these plans take shape.
“This is an extraordinary investment in the future of the Ackland and of the arts at Carolina,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “The Kenan Trust made its first grant to the University in 1966 and has since strengthened nearly every part of our campus in service to North Carolina. This grant is a fitting tribute to Tom Kenan’s decades of remarkable leadership. As we envision a more connected arts and culture presence on campus, with an expanded Ackland Art Museum at its heart, we intend for Thomas S. Kenan III Place to anchor a new arts and culture district in recognition of that legacy.”
The Kenan Trust grant is the lead commitment in the Ackland’s planned $70 million expansion, which would add approximately 40,000 square feet and double the museum’s footprint. The grant also provides a foundation for the University to consider how the museum and nearby cultural resources can contribute to a richer, more connected arts experience. The upcoming design and planning process will explore those possibilities. Thomas S. Kenan III Place is envisioned as a new welcoming, central green space within the district.
“The Trustees of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust are pleased to award this grant to the University to support the expansion of the Ackland and assist in making the vision for a new arts and culture district at Carolina a reality. This gift is being made in honor of my cousin and fellow trustee, Thomas S. Kenan III, to recognize his 44 years of service to the Kenan Charitable Trust and his lifetime commitment to the promotion of the arts across North Carolina and the Southeast,” said Lawrence L. Gray, trustee of the Kenan Charitable Trust. “We are proud to provide this leadership grant as catalytic funding for the University’s broader vision for the arts on campus, and we hope others will be inspired to join us in elevating the arts at Carolina through this transformative project.”
Tom Kenan’s generosity is evident throughout the University, with an especially enduring impact on the arts. The Ackland Art Museum, Carolina Performing Arts and the Kenan Music Scholars Program are among the many ways his philanthropy has enriched arts education and experiences at Carolina.
“For nearly 50 years, Thomas S. Kenan III has provided generous and significant philanthropy to support excellence in the visual and performing arts on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus and beyond,” said Nancy J. Cable, executive director of the Kenan Charitable Trust. “Mr. Kenan has a steadfast appreciation for the arts as a vital component of a well-rounded education, and we are grateful that this grant will support increased access and exposure to the arts for the campus community, the town of Chapel Hill, and visitors from across the state and nation.”
Carolina’s work to elevate the arts has been taking shape for several years. In spring 2025, the University appointed Elizabeth Engelhardt as its inaugural vice provost for arts and culture to bring together arts initiatives across campus and expand opportunities for students, faculty and the public.
“We are deeply grateful to the Kenan Trust for this visionary grant in Tom Kenan’s honor,” said Shalini Le Gall, director of the Ackland Art Museum. “The Ackland is a gathering space for campus and community audiences, and this expansion will make it possible for us to engage an even broader public. Larger exhibitions, enhanced teaching and learning programs, and extended opportunities for research and collaborations will create the conditions for transformative encounters with art for generations to come.”
The Ackland’s location also presents an opportunity to strengthen the connection between campus and downtown Chapel Hill. As planning progresses, the University will consider how the museum and Carolina’s arts organizations and resources can create an inviting gateway, encourage movement between campus and Franklin Street, and contribute to downtown’s cultural vitality.
“This expansion is an exciting opportunity to deepen the Ackland’s connection between Carolina and Chapel Hill, build on the important role arts and culture play in our community, and create a destination downtown that draws people from across the community, the state and beyond,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson. “I look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge as the University moves through the planning process.”
The University will continue to advance this work through design exploration, planning and engagement with campus and Chapel Hill stakeholders.