Peter F. Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Peter F. Donnelly was an American
patron of the arts. He was a former Vice-Chairman of Americans for the Arts
, a co-founder of the Seattle Arts Commission and a pivotal figure in the Seattle artistic community for more than 45 years..
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts
, Donnelly graduated from Boston University
and moved to Seattle in 1964 as a Ford Foundation
management fellow to work with the fledgling Seattle Repertory Theatre
as the first managing director and later as producing director, during his 21 year tenure.
In 1986, Donnelly left Seattle to take the position of the producing director of the Dallas Theater Center
, returning to Seattle in 1989 to at the request of local business leaders to head the Seattle Corporate Council for the Arts , which later became ArtsFund, where he served as President and CEO
until retiring in 2005. In honor of his retirement, the ArtsFund created the Peter F. Donnelly Merit Fund for Arts Endowments.
Donnelly is credited with being instrumental in the building of the Seattle Repertory Theatre's Bagley Wright Theater and the development of the Building for the Arts program, a primary funding source for Seattle's Benaroya Hall, Intiman Theater
, Seattle Children's Theatre
, as well as 150 other arts facilities. In 2001 the Seattle Public Library
honored Donnelly by naming one of their five major collections as The Peter F. Donnelly Art and Literature Collection. Donnelly also served on the Board of Directors for the Frye Art Museum
, the 5th Avenue Theatre
, the University of Washington
School of Drama Advisory Committee and Classic KING-FM Radio Station
.
and is survived by his partner, David Farrar, of Seattle as well as two sisters.
Seattle Mayor's Arts Award – 2005
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
patron of the arts. He was a former Vice-Chairman of Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts is a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is advancing the arts in the United States. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service...
, a co-founder of the Seattle Arts Commission and a pivotal figure in the Seattle artistic community for more than 45 years..
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, Donnelly graduated from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and moved to Seattle in 1964 as a Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
management fellow to work with the fledgling Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle Repertory Theatre is a major regional theatre located in Seattle, Washington, at the Seattle Center. It is a member of Theatre Puget Sound and Theatre Communications Group. Founded in 1963, it is led by Artistic Director Jerry Manning and Managing Director Benjamin Moore...
as the first managing director and later as producing director, during his 21 year tenure.
In 1986, Donnelly left Seattle to take the position of the producing director of the Dallas Theater Center
Dallas Theater Center
The Dallas Theater Center is a major regional theater in Dallas, Texas . It produces classic, contemporary and new plays. The theater was based in the Kalita Humphreys Theater, a building designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, from 1959 to 2009...
, returning to Seattle in 1989 to at the request of local business leaders to head the Seattle Corporate Council for the Arts , which later became ArtsFund, where he served as President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
until retiring in 2005. In honor of his retirement, the ArtsFund created the Peter F. Donnelly Merit Fund for Arts Endowments.
Donnelly is credited with being instrumental in the building of the Seattle Repertory Theatre's Bagley Wright Theater and the development of the Building for the Arts program, a primary funding source for Seattle's Benaroya Hall, Intiman Theater
Intiman Playhouse
Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Washington, was founded in 1972 by Margaret "Megs" Booker, who named it for August Strindberg's Stockholm theater. With a self-declared focus on "a resident acting ensemble, fidelity to the playwright's intentions and a close relationship between actor and audience", the...
, Seattle Children's Theatre
Seattle Children's Theatre
Founded in 1975, Seattle Children's Theatre is the second-largest resident theatre for young audiences in North America and among the 20 largest regional theatres in the United States, with an annual operating budget of approximately $6.5 Million...
, as well as 150 other arts facilities. In 2001 the Seattle Public Library
Seattle Public Library
The Seattle Public Library is the public library system serving Seattle, Washington, USA. It was officially established by the city in 1890, though there had been efforts to start a Seattle library as early as 1868. There are 26 branches in the system, most of them named after the neighborhoods in...
honored Donnelly by naming one of their five major collections as The Peter F. Donnelly Art and Literature Collection. Donnelly also served on the Board of Directors for the Frye Art Museum
Frye Art Museum
The Frye Art Museum is an art museum located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA . The museum emphasizes painting and sculpture from the nineteenth century to the present. Its holdings originate in the private collection of Charles and Emma Frye...
, the 5th Avenue Theatre
5th Avenue Theatre
The 5th Avenue Theatre is a landmark theater building located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It has hosted a variety of theatre productions and motion pictures since it opened in 1926. The building and land is owned by the University of Washington and was once part of the original campus...
, the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
School of Drama Advisory Committee and Classic KING-FM Radio Station
KING-FM
KING-FM is a classical music radio station in Seattle, Washington. Its transmitter is located in Issaquah, Washington....
.
Death
Donnelly died on March 28, 2009, a week after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
and is survived by his partner, David Farrar, of Seattle as well as two sisters.
Awards
National Coalition of United Arts Fund's Michael Newton Award – 1995Seattle Mayor's Arts Award – 2005