The Gregory Allicar Museum of Art would not exist at Colorado State University without Linny Frickman.
“Whenever the subject of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art arises, the one indistinguishable presence of Linny Frickman automatically surfaces, for it is impossible to separate the two. Linny is the Museum,” explains Gary Voss, professor emeritus of the Department of Art and Art History. “Through her vision, diligence and unselfish service since its inception, we now have a named art museum on our campus. She has been the main driver for every gift, fundraiser, staff addition, hammer and nail that has built what we have today.”
As the museum’s director, Frickman’s passion for art, donor-centric focus, and dedication to strengthening donor relationships has established the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art as one of the best college art museums in the region. Due to Frickman’s dedicated and meaningful philanthropic work at CSU, she received this year’s Spirit of Philanthropy Award at the Celebrate! CSU Awards Event. She has generously given her time and energy to build relationships with donors, actively engaged with alumni, and made meaningful connections throughout the community, and truly embodies the spirit of philanthropy.
Every major gift that has been made to the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art was influenced by Frickman. Frickman was an integral part of the process that established to the Hartford-Tandstad Collection, a 2011 gift from Larry Hartford and Torleif Tandstad, which served as the catalyst for the expansion of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art. The extraordinary gift is the largest ever received by the museum and has been valued at more than $1.5 million. Further, the $2M anonymous gift that supported the renovation, expansion, and naming of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art wouldn’t have been received without the relationships built and strengthened by Frickman.
Frickman began as an art history instructor at CSU in 1988 before becoming the director of the Clara Hatton Gallery, where she planned and executed all exhibitions, gallery programs, and continues to be responsible for collection documentation and development. Her impressive CSU resume also includes serving as Director of the Critic and Artist Residency Series, as well as curating the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition for 19 years, and she continues to teach as a senior art history lecturer.
In her role as the founding director of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, Frickman has created exhibitions that promote interdisciplinary, cross-university collaborations and emphasize the importance of the liberal arts to the broader community. Through the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, Frickman has established a space to better serve the CSU campus and to welcome the community, embodying CSU’s land-grant mission and providing experiential learning opportunities.
“Linny’s impressive knowledge of art, tireless work, and wonderful show designs have resulted in displays that draw visitors to the museum. We not only would not have the Gregory Allicar museum without Linny, we would not have the significant collection of art nor the recognition we have in the art community,” explains Ann Gill, Dean Emerita of the College of Liberal Arts.
Now, after more than 28 years in the Department of Art and Art History, the museum and its world-renown collections are Frickman’s legacy at CSU as she prepares to retire this summer. Linny Frickman embodies the spirit of philanthropy at CSU and her work will continue to impact students, faculty and staff, and community members for years to come. You can celebrate Frickman’s CSU legacy by making a gift in her honor to the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art.
I was very honored to receive this award that embodies the ideas of giving because CSU has given so much to me, foremost, the opportunity to have an extraordinary career. I think of myself as the “accidental museum director.” I never expected that I would have the opportunities to work with so many generous donors, donors of funds and of works of art. I never expected that I would have the opportunity to work with an extraordinary team of builders, architects, and CSU project managers on a new building to house works of art. I’m so pleased to receive this award because I’m so pleased to have spent my career at an institution that has allowed me to grow and to build something that will be a resource for generations of students and community members to come.
– Linny Frickman
