The Springfield Museums have announced the identity of the previously anonymous donors for whom the Museum of Fine Arts is to be named. The museum will now be known as the Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

The announcement was made at a May 29 dinner for upper level members and donors of the Springfield Museums. The D'Amours' $4 million gift will be used as follows: $2 million to establish an endowment that will enable the Museum of Fine Arts to book high quality traveling art exhibitions and present major shows from the museum collections. $2 million toward the construction of the new Museum of Springfield History, which is currently underway on Edwards Street adjacent to the Quadrangle. When the $4 million donation was first announced in November 2007, the donors had requested that they remain anonymous until this spring. "We're so happy to finally announce the names of these very generous benefactors," said Heather Haskell, director of the Springfield Art Museums. "Michele and Donald D'Amour have a passion for the arts and a wonderful community spirit. I can't imagine a better couple to hold such a place of honor on the Museum of Fine Arts." The Museum of Fine Arts, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, showcases an internationally-renowned collection of European and American paintings, sculpture and works on paper. Artworks from the collection are frequently included in major traveling exhibitions and seen by audiences throughout the world. "Don and Michele D'Amour have always been very generous to the Springfield Museums and very supportive of our mission," said Joseph Carvalho, president and executive director of the Museums. "The magnitude of their gift will significantly advance our ability to serve our community and the thousands of visitors who enjoy our museums each year."