Cincinnati Art Museum receives record gift of nearly $12 million

Cincinnati Art Museum has received the largest single monetary gift in its history. Longtime supporters Carl and Alice Bimel have left a bequest of $11.75 million to the Art Museum to establish the Alice Bimel Endowment for Asian Art.

The endowment will enhance collections in the arts of South Asia, Greater Iran and Afghanistan, the museum announced at its 137th Annual Meeting of the Shareholders on Monday.

Cameron Kitchin, director of the museum, said that the Bimels' gift "will advance a key area of study that is immeasurably important and highly relevant in contemporary society. The Bimels gave countless volunteer hours, support and collections while they were with us. Now they add their vision to the future."

During their lifetimes, the couple traveled extensively and collected South Asian art of all periods, and extended their interest to include Iran and Afghanistan. With the works that they have given to the museum, their total donation amounts to more than $14 million.

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