In response to Judge Ott's decision to grant The Barnes Foundation permission to relocate its gallery to Philadelphia, the Annenberg Foundation, The Lenfest Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts issued the following statement today:
"This is a great day for the Delaware Valley, the commonwealth, and the nation. The Annenberg Foundation, The Lenfest Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts strongly support access to art education for people of all walks of life. With his decision today, Judge Ott has cleared the way to make that goal a reality.
"Allowing The Barnes Foundation to relocate its gallery to Philadelphia offers a future that sustains programs at the Lower Merion and Ker-feal campuses while introducing thousands of people to Dr. Barnes' unique vision of art education and art appreciation.
"Support for The Barnes Foundation already has been unprecedented -- more than 30 donors from the Philadelphia region have pledged $100 million to relocate the gallery. Today we invite additional donors to join us in support of one of the world's most important collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art, and to help fulfill Dr. Barnes' vision of art for all."