The Avangrid Foundation was featured in The Wadsworth Atheneum’s 2020 Annual Report. Their story speaks to our partnership and we’re sharing it with you:

Support from the Avangrid Foundation has enabled the Wadsworth to advance major preservation and access initiatives, through investments in state-of the- art museum lighting, conservation, and most recently, creation of virtual content to encourage deeper connections with the museum. Through projects like these, the Wadsworth is able to enhance the care and presentation of its world-class collection experienced by thousands of visitors each year, and tell stories that reach even more people digitally.

In alignment with the Avangrid Foundation’s core focus on sustainable development the museum’s first partnership with the foundation began in 2018 with a grant to convert nearly 1,400 halogen light bulbs and fixtures in the main galleries to energy-efficient LED lamps developed specifically for the illumination of museum collections. The Wadsworth worked with renowned lighting consultant George Sexton Associates of Washington, DC to realize the project. In addition to reducing energy use and contributing to sustainable collections care, the conversion to LED improved the appearance of artworks through better color rendering and light distribution.

A second grant, awarded in 2019, supported a project visible to museum visitors and passersby alike: the conservation of Enoch Smith Woods’s monumental bronze sculpture of Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, displayed on the Main Street lawn of the museum since 1894. Exposed to the elements for 126 years, the statue had developed green corrosion typical of outdoor works made with copper alloys, significantly altering the appearance of the original bronze surface. Conservation treatment, performed by Francis Miller of Conserve ART, corrected discoloration while preventing further deterioration of the metal. The project will conclude with the installation of new lighting for the statue in early 2021—ensuring that Nathan Hale remains a focal point of the Wadsworth grounds and the Hartford cityscape into the future.

The partnership continues with the most recent grant to support an innovative project to expand digital engagement, at a moment when many are limited in their ability to visit the museum in-person. The investment will allow the Wadsworth to work with award-winning technology firm Culture Connect to develop digital experiences highlighting two of the museum’s signature galleries: Morgan Great Hall and the Cabinet of Art and Curiosity. The new content created for Morgan Great Hall will utilize audio, video, and images to explore the space and provide in-depth commentary and contextualization of the works on display, while an updated interactive game for the Cabinet of Art and Curiosity will allow users to create their own curiosity cabinets either in the gallery or remotely. Together these interactives powered by AVANGRID, will allow the Wadsworth to better serve its Connecticut audience while making its renowned spaces and collections accessible across the world.

The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where AVANGRID, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. AVANGRID, Inc. is an affiliate of Iberdrola, S.A. The AVANGRID operating companies include Connecticut Natural Gas, Southern Connecticut Gas and United Illuminating. For more information, please visit www.avangridfoundation.org.