Hugh Grant and Merle Chambers — two people who are as modest as they are generous — are the recipients of the 2015 Citizen of the Arts Award. They accepted it at a dinner ceremony put on by the sponsoring .
Their philanthropic efforts are extensive, yet they choose to “fly under the radar” instead of seeking accolades.
“Hugh and Merle believe strongly that arts and culture institutions are important in creating and sustaining a vibrant and livable community,” observed Steve Edmonds, who chaired the dinner at which they were honored. “Their actions match what they perceive and understand the needs to be, and they do it in thoughtful and quiet ways.”
Chambers, who founded and operated an oil and gas production company in the Rocky Mountain region for over 20 years, was the first woman to be inducted into the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Hall of Fame. She started the Chambers Family Fund to provide support in four key areas: the early care and education of children; women’s economic self-sufficiency; justice, equality and opportunity; and arts and culture.
She has been a major funder of numerous arts and culture capital projects in Colorado, including the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building, the Clyfford Still Museum, Colorado Ballet and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Chambers’ previous honors include induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and being named one of Colorado’s 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also has received the Josef Korbel Humanitarian Award from the University of Denver.
Her husband is the founding director and curator of the and adjunct curator of the Vance Kirkland Collection at the Denver Art Museum.
A ballet that he wrote, “The Artist and the Muse,” was performed by Colorado Ballet and aired on PBS stations. It won a Heartland Emmy and 11 other awards.
He has received the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Arts and Humanities Award and has lectured extensively on decorative art and Colorado art history.
As Citizens of the Arts, Chambers and Grant also will be part of the receiving line at the Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball held this summer on the University of Denver campus.
The DAM’s director, Christoph Heinrich, was the evening’s master of ceremonies; Colorado Symphony concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams provided musical selections on violin.
Fine Arts Foundation president Lynn Wong was there to help Edmonds greet such friends of the honorees as Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld; Adrienne and Jack Fitzgibbons; Joy Burns; Dan Boyle and Dr. Adrienne Stewart; Claudette and Bruce Erek; Mary McNicholas; Murri and Andy Bishop; Syd Sexton; Julie Anderson, who is chairing the 2015 FAF Debutante Ball, and her husband, Mark; and previous award recipients Shirley Smith, Dan Ritchie, and Phyllis and Dr. Gary VanderArk.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Ruston Award is given
Arapahoe House has given its annual Ruston Award for commitment to philanthropy to Patti Robinson, who, with her family, has long supported the nonprofit organization’s commitment to treating those seeking to overcome substance abuse. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog: blogs.denverpost.com/style
