During his 20-year tenure as President of the University of Virginia, John Casteen worked tirelessly as a champion of the arts. Today, he and his wife Betsy are continuing their dedication and commitment to their passion-driven cause by helping to chart the exciting future of The Fralin Museum of Art. Since last spring, both have served on the Museum’s Advisory Board, and John acts as its Chair. “We are so pleased that John and Betsy Casteen have assumed these leadership roles during one of the most exciting and important times in the Museum’s history,” said The
Fralin Museum of Art Director Bruce Boucher.

The Museum has completed plans to build a new wing, designed by architects, Frederick Fisher and Partners, and fundraising for this initiative will be a major focus of the Casteens’ work. “We are now attracting more significant, world-class exhibitions,” Boucher said, “resulting in increased attendance and museum memberships. We simply have outgrown our space, and this new wing will allow us to continue to grow and serve our visitors in the University community and beyond, with the heightened level of excellence that they now expect from the Museum.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have John’s strategic vision and leadership to guide the advisory board of The Fralin,” said Vice Provost for the Arts Jody Kielbasa, “as we plan the expansion of the Museum and work to usher in a new era for the Arts at U.Va.”

The Fralin expansion will mark yet another project spearheaded by the Casteens, whose leadership has profoundly changed the arts landscape at U.Va. It was President Casteen’s initiative, launched in 1998, that created a central place for the Arts at the University, and within the U.Va. academic experience as a whole. The Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds, named in their honor in 2010, have transformed the area west of Rugby Road into a vibrant creative hub, and feature a number of buildings and projects that stand as beacons of their leadership. These include the restored Fayerweather Hall, housing the McIntire Department of Art; the Campbell Hall expansion, home to the School of Architecture; the construction of Ruffin Hall for Studio Art; and the parking garage on Culbreth Road, which enhances accessibility to the Arts for our entire community.