While some of Philadelphia’s arts organizations have seen fit to name their entire organization for an individual/corporation based on a gift, most have remained true to their original identity – The Franklin Istitute was originally named after Ben Franklin – but does have interior spaces such as the Tuttleman Omniverse Theater named in grateful recognition of the Tuttleman family’s generous contributions. The Philadelphia Museum of Art would no more change the name of its landmark building than would the Metropolitan Museum in New York, yet both routinely name their galleries – and in the case of PMA, its ancillary building – The Perelman Builing after Ruth and Ray Perelman. I know I’ve only mentioned visual arts museums, but I know that theaters do this as well, and I think that naming interior spaces or wings makes a perfectly lovely compromise for corporations and philanthropically minded individuals.
While some of Philadelphia’s arts organizations have seen fit to name their entire organization for an individual/corporation based on a gift, most have remained true to their original identity – The Franklin Istitute was originally named after Ben Franklin – but does have interior spaces such as the Tuttleman Omniverse Theater named in grateful recognition of the Tuttleman family’s generous contributions. The Philadelphia Museum of Art would no more change the name of its landmark building than would the Metropolitan Museum in New York, yet both routinely name their galleries – and in the case of PMA, its ancillary building – The Perelman Builing after Ruth and Ray Perelman. I know I’ve only mentioned visual arts museums, but I know that theaters do this as well, and I think that naming interior spaces or wings makes a perfectly lovely compromise for corporations and philanthropically minded individuals.