La Salle University Art Museum Receives $156K Grant

Funding will upgrade lighting to preserve artwork and enhance visitor experience.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:09pm

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The La Salle University Art Museum has been awarded a $156,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation to replace its aging lighting system with an energy-efficient LED system. The new lighting will help preserve the museum's artwork, provide flexible lighting options to improve accessibility and the overall visitor experience, and reduce energy costs.

Why it matters

The museum's current halogen lighting system, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, is no longer energy efficient and can potentially damage the artwork through excess heat and UV radiation exposure. Upgrading the lighting system will help the museum better fulfill its mission of serving as a cultural hub for the local community and providing an optimal environment for students, faculty, and visitors to engage with the artwork.

The details

The lighting upgrade project will take place over the summer, with the new LED track lighting and dimmer controls fully installed by the start of the 2026-27 academic year. The improved lighting will minimize UV exposure to sensitive artworks, offer flexible lighting options to support accessibility and visibility, and reduce energy costs for the museum.

  • The lighting upgrade project will take place throughout the summer of 2026.
  • The new LED lighting system will be fully installed by the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

The players

La Salle University Art Museum

A university art museum that serves as a cultural hub for the local community, hosting exhibitions, educational programs, and events.

William Penn Foundation

A philanthropic organization founded in 1945 that is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all.

Carolyn Greene, Ph.D.

The director and chief curator of the La Salle University Art Museum.

Ian Eichen

The director of corporate and foundation grants at La Salle University.

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What they’re saying

“We jumped at the chance to see if we were a good fit.”

— Carolyn Greene, Director and Chief Curator, La Salle University Art Museum (lasalle.edu)

“It's one of the harshest things we can expose our art to.”

— Carolyn Greene, Director and Chief Curator, La Salle University Art Museum (lasalle.edu)

“This improvement allows us to become a dynamic part of our community.”

— Carolyn Greene, Director and Chief Curator, La Salle University Art Museum (lasalle.edu)

What’s next

The museum plans to have the new LED lighting system fully installed by the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

The takeaway

The lighting upgrade at the La Salle University Art Museum will not only help preserve the museum's artwork, but also enhance the overall visitor experience and solidify the museum's role as a dynamic cultural hub for the local community.