On Friday, November 17, the Chazen Museum of Art kicked-off a community-wide capital campaign entitled “Something for Everyone” to raise the remaining $10 million for its planned 62,000 square-foot addition. Total project costs will be $35 million. A vibrant center for visual art located on the UW–Madison campus, the Chazen Museum of Art offers “Something for Everyone” through its wide-ranging exhibitions, inspiring educational programs for visitors of all ages, and a permanent collection that features art from antiquity to the present.

Museum director Russell Panczenko explains that “the community campaign offers a special opportunity for the public to contribute to the museum's exciting future. The museum is a valuable resource for Madison, for the state, and beyond, and we encourage everyone's support of this special community asset.”

Jonathan Overby, renowned baritone and host/executive producer of Wisconsin Public Radio's “Higher Ground” served as master of ceremonies for the kick-off event, which included announcements by Chazen Museum of Art Council chair Tim Erdman and director Russell Panczenko. Musical interludes on piano were provided by UW–Madison School of Music Professor Catherine Kautsky.

In May of 2005, the museum received a visionary gift of $20 million from UW–Madison alumni Simona and Jerome Chazen. In addition to the Chazen's gift, several generous donors have pledged their support, bringing the total dollars raised to $26 million. The entire cost of the building project will be met through gifts and grants from private sources; no tax-derived state funding will be used to complete the expansion.

The architect process is spearheaded by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Office of Facilities Planning & Management. This office will also supervise the construction phase and assure that the building is constructed in accordance with university and State of Wisconsin criteria for quality design, including economics of construction and operation. An announcement about the architect chosen is expected in the near future.