The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts has entered the public phase of Framing the Future, a campaign to enclose and expand The Terrace as a year-round gathering space and to strengthen the organization’s endowment for generations to come. The Bascom is inviting neighbors to take part as they close in on their overall goal of six million.
The Terrace is the setting for exhibition openings, artist talks, Community Day, and gatherings throughout the year. Its canvas walls and open-air design, however, leave it exposed to rain and unusable in the coldest months. Framing the Future will enclose The Terrace into a weather-protected, year-round space with retractable windows that preserve its mountain views. The campaign will also grow The Bascom’s endowment, building long-term support for free exhibitions, education, and outreach on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.
“The Terrace has always been the heart of our campus, it’s where exhibitions open, where families gather on Community Day, where the community celebrates together,” said Billy Love, Executive Director of The Bascom. “Enclosing and expanding it means those moments will no longer depend on the weather or the season. That’s what this campaign makes possible: a gathering place as enduring as the community and region it serves.”
Marianne and Mark Mahaffey are leadership donors to the campaign. Mark Mahaffey serves as Campaign Co-Chair and sees the project as both a personal and community investment.
“My wife Marianne and I have had a home in Highlands for 40 years, and I have been directly involved with The Bascom for the past five years,” said Mahaffey. “We felt that the Terrace improvement project was an excellent way of giving back to the community that has meant so much to our family over these many years. The Bascom is such an important asset to the Plateau community for all ages, from children to seniors. We feel that this endeavor will enhance The Bascom’s mission for many years to come.”
David Bock and Mark Mahaffey
Debi and David Bock are also leadership donors to the campaign. David Bock serves as Campaign Co-Chair alongside Mahaffey.
“We have loved calling Highlands our home for more than 25 years,” said Debi and David Bock. “We have made lifelong friends here, helped families build their beautiful mountain homes here and joined the many volunteers in this special town in trying to make a difference in charitable causes by ‘paying it forward.’ In supporting The Bascom’s future, we hope to pass on not just a love of art, but a love of this campus so our children and grandchildren can keep making memories here for generations to come.”
Longtime supporters Dianne and Myron Mall, who serve on the Framing the Future steering committee, count themselves among those who have stepped forward for the campaign.
“We consider The Bascom to be the jewel of the Plateau,” said Dianne and Myron Mall. “It is a key piece of the puzzle in making this region such a desirable place to both live and visit. Since the first time we set foot on the property, it has held a special place in our lives, and that is why we have committed meaningfully of our financial resources. We believe in The Bascom.”
The Bascom welcomes gifts of every size toward Framing the Future. Those interested in learning more or getting involved can visit TheBascom.org/framingthefuture or contact Jamie Raynor, Director of Development, at 828.787.2897 or development@thebascom.org.
Favorites Count: 0