Having raised over $15 million toward a $16 million goal, the museum is on track to open debt-free, ensuring that every dollar supports its mission. However, the work continues. Donations are still needed to raise the final $600,000 for essential items like furniture, equipment, and inaugural programming. Your support will help shape the future of the arts in our community. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting new space!

Special thanks to our lead donors Dr. and Mrs. Monroe Trout for their $5,000,000 donation, and Mr. John Bergstrom and Bergstrom Automotive for their $1,320,000 contribution.

Photo by Danny Damiani, Lawrence University

In August 2023, the Trout Museum of Art announced a partnership with Lawrence University to develop a new building featuring over 100,000 square feet of space across four floors. The ground floor will house the state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot Trout Museum of Art.

Situated at the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street, on the western edge of the Lawrence campus, the building will be jointly owned by the Trout Museum of Art and Lawrence University, with each entity maintaining sole ownership of its designated areas.

The new property combines a vacant lot and office buildings owned by the university, along with a section purchased by the museum through an anonymous donor.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on March 7, 2024 for the new building, marking a pivotal moment in a partnership that will provide a new home for the Trout Museum of Art, provide innovative new academic spaces for Lawrence University, and foster exciting opportunities for collaboration.

Leaders from Lawrence, the museum, and the City of Appleton addressed more than 200 people gathered on the site where the four-story building will rise. They spoke to the ways this project will bolster the futures of the university, the nonprofit art museum, downtown Appleton, and the greater Fox Valley region.

In recent years, the Trout Museum of Art has experienced significant growth in its programming, which has outpaced the capabilities of our current 100-year-old facility. This historic building not only requires substantial investment to update, but also limits our ability to expand and innovate. It has always been our goal to remain within Downtown Appleton, a community we deeply cherish. Functionally, the current space also lacks modern museum amenities that ensure the safety of both artwork and visitors. For instance, we do not have a loading dock for art deliveries; currently, artists or exhibit deliveries must park downtown and transport work through the elements. Other critical shortcomings include the absence of a safe drop-off area for attendees of classes and summer camps, as well as inadequate museum-grade humidity and climate control systems essential for preserving artwork. These limitations highlight the need for a new facility that can better support our mission, growth, and enhance the overall experience for our community.

The new space promises to be a premier venue for the museum, featuring 10,000 square feet of exhibition space on a single floor, complete with a loading dock and exhibition/collection prep and storage areas. Additionally, it will include both indoor and outdoor classrooms, kiln and specialty art-making rooms, an expanded museum store, new lecture and meeting spaces, an Artist in Residence studio along College Avenue, a café, creativity think points, staff work area, and a large welcome area for daily gatherings in the Cafe or events. These elements will significantly enhance the museum’s offerings, fostering creativity and collaboration within the community.

The Trout Museum of Art will operate at its current location at 111 W College Ave until late May 18, 2025 when we will begin our transition and opening on October 4, 2025. The current building has been sold to First Five Fox Valley, another nonprofit, and the proceeds will be used to help fund the cost of the new location.