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Aug. 13, 2012
 The Gilchrist Foundation has awarded a $75,000 project grant to Morningside College to help fund renovation of the Eugene C. Eppley Fine Arts Building on the college’s campus.
The $1 million renovation project will include improvements to both the interior and exterior of the Eppley Fine Arts Building.
“This will be the first major renovation of Eppley since the facility opened,” said John Reynders, Morningside president. “For nearly 50 years, Eppley has hosted countless college and community events. The extensive use of Eppley has taken its toll, especially on the auditorium’s seats. We plan to replace the seats and make other improvements to the auditorium, the building itself and the outdoor areas around Eppley.”
According to Reynders, first phases of the renovation will get underway this year as the college continues to raise funds for the project.
“Ever since the Eppley Fine Arts Building opened in 1966, it has been a major cultural hub for Morningside College and the Sioux City area,” said Marilyn Hagberg, vice president and trust officer of Security National Bank, which oversees the Gilchrist Foundation trust. “The foundation’s grant committee is pleased to help ensure that Eppley remains one of the area’s premier fine arts facilities for many more decades.”
In addition to the 1,400-seat Eppley Auditorium, the Eppley Fine Arts Building also contains the Helen Levitt Art Gallery, which houses works by internationally famous artists, and the Eppley Art Gallery, which regularly features exhibitions by guest artists and Morningside students and faculty.
The Gilchrist Foundation furthers the philanthropy of the late Jocelyn Gilchrist, and her family, in the arts, wildlife, conservation, public broadcasting, medical care and disaster relief. The foundation makes grants to pre-selected non-profit organizations.
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