The University of California, Davis, ushered in a new era for the arts with the grand opening of the Maria Manetti Shrem Art District — a vibrant hub designed to expand creativity, innovation and collaboration on campus and beyond. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held Sunday at the Ann E. Pitzer Center marked the culmination of a vision made possible by philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem through her transformative gift of over $20 million, the largest gift ever to the College of Letters and Science and the largest to the arts at UC Davis. 

“The arts are an essential part of who we are as a university,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “Maria’s extraordinary generosity will echo through generations, empowering students to redefine creativity, challenge boundaries and illuminate the world with their vision.”

The Maria Manetti Shrem Art District, spanning Hutchison Drive from the historic TB 9 art building to Shields Library, recognizes Manetti Shrem’s historic support of multiple disciplines in the arts at UC Davis. The district is a public symbol of her vision to bolster collaboration among these areas to show a holistic approach to the arts.

Attendees at Sunday’s event were invited on a special tour of parts of the district, which featured vibrant artwork on display and student performances, and offered opportunities to connect with faculty and students. 

The district is intended as a space where creativity flourishes, welcoming all students, faculty and the broader community to explore, connect and be inspired. Central to this vision is a belief deeply shared by Maria Manetti Shrem: that the arts are for everyone.

“I am thrilled to see how many students, talents and faculty members at UC Davis can benefit from such a holistic approach to the arts, inspired by the spirit of the Italian Renaissance,” said Manetti Shrem. “Today, more than ever, the arts and humanities are essential. They must be safeguarded and fully integrated with science and technology to drive meaningful transformation for the betterment of our world.”

A transformative gift for the arts

Manetti Shrem’s historic gift funds eight new endowments for art and design within the College of Letters and Science, including:  

• Two endowed academic chairs in the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program and one endowed faculty chair in the Department of Design.
• Graduate fellowships that will nurture the next generation of artists.
• Perpetual funding for The California Studio: Manetti Shrem Artist Residencies, which brings world-class artists to instruct and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• The launch of the Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion and Textile in the Department of Design. 
• Support for the Maria Manetti Shrem Art and Art History Visual Resources Library. 

In addition to the district, UC Davis has named existing programs and spaces in her honor, including the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Hall and Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program.

An era of impact 

Manetti Shrem’s generosity has long provided UC Davis students with unparalleled opportunities for global education in the arts. Through partnerships with the Royal Drawing School in London, Museo Novecento in Italy and the Dumfries House in Scotland, students have had a front-row seat to transformative artistic and cultural experiences. 

“Education rescued me in the aftermath of WWII in Florence, and I have always considered it a privilege to learn and grow through exposure to diverse cultures,” Manetti Shrem said. “This is what I wish for everyone.” 

The UC Davis Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is named for Manetti Shrem and her late husband, Jan Shrem. The couple gave $10 million in 2011 to establish the museum, which opened its doors in 2016. Manetti Shrem’s latest gift builds upon her continued giving over the past decade and consists of a $20 million estate gift plus an additional $800,000 annually to immediately fund the endowments, providing support in perpetuity. 

Roughly 25,000 students each year visit the Manetti Shrem Museum and 10,000 are currently enrolled in art, art history and design classes. Thanks to Manetti Shrem’s support of the arts at the College of Letters and Science, these numbers are poised to increase dramatically.

Manetti Shrem’s total giving to the university exceeds $43 million, leaving an indelible mark on the arts at UC Davis and around the world.