June 10, 2025
Drawing the Addison’s Tomorrow
This is the first in a two-part series focused on the philanthropic priorities that sustain the Addison Gallery.The Addison Gallery of American Art is one of Phillips Academy’s most extraordinary assets. With an acclaimed collection, thought-provoking exhibitions, and dynamic educational programming, it operates far beyond its scale—offering a caliber of work rarely found outside major institutions.
Upholding that distinction depends on philanthropic investments. Unlike similar museums whose larger endowments fund a significant share of their operations, the Addison has historically achieved an outsized impact with relatively limited means.
With only 70 percent of the museum’s annual budget covered by endowment income, more than 30 percent must be raised each year—a challenge that strains resources and complicates long-term planning. “Closing this gap is essential,” says Tristin Batchelder Mannion ’82, P’19, co-chair of the Addison’s Board of Governors, who, along with her husband, Martin Mannion, endowed a fund for the head of education. “It’s what will allow the Addison to deliver bold, immersive experiences for students and visitors alike.”
Endowment gifts enable the long view—preserving the Addison’s excellence while opening doors to what’s next.
”That vision—and the chance to shape it—has inspired donors like John Bassett ’67. As a student, Bassett discovered Fletcher Martin’s Study for “The Brothers” while researching an English assignment at the Addison. The sketch changed how he saw the world. His insight deepened in an art class with Robert A. Lloyd P’77, ’78, ’79, a beloved faculty member who taught art and architecture at Phillips Academy for more than 35 years. “Bob instilled in me a lifelong appreciation of art,” Bassett says.
To honor his teacher’s influence, Bassett has established the Robert A. Lloyd P’77, ’78, ’79 Fund for the Addison Gallery—ensuring every student has the opportunity to encounter that same spark of discovery. His gift contributes to the Addison’s endowment and elevates its excellence, now and in the future.
Today, Bassett tries to visit every new exhibition at the Addison, and art continues to inform his life. His gift, he says, wasn’t about recognition—it was about creating something that would resonate. “Something that would quietly keep giving.”
Categories: Philanthropy
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