The Boca Raton Arts District Exploratory Corporation (BRADEC) moved a significant step forward in building amodern incubator for arts and innovation in the area after it received a $5 million capital donation from the Edith & Martin Stein Family Foundation.
“Mrs. Stein’s philanthropic commitment to the Center is humbling and inspiring, and puts wind in our sails in engaging other prospective capital donors whose involvement will be key to moving this project forward,” says BRADEC Development Director Andrea Doyle.
Along with the contribution, the nonprofit organization recently received permission from the Boca Raton City Council to negotiate a lease with the city to use the Mizner Park Amphitheater site and the adjacent land to build the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation.
The goal of the proposed center is to serve as the infrastructure for creating a modern incubator for education, arts and innovation in the area, which is a passion of the Steins. The couple moved to Boca Raton in 1990 and contributed to the creation of the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia. They also provided funding and resources to the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Ballet Theatre, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Tri-County Animal Rescue and the Florence Fuller Child Development Center.
“Martin was very passionate about the arts — music, jazz, paintings,” Edith says of her late husband who died in 2017. “Art was his thing. He always wanted everything under one roof. For this center to happen, it would be his dream come true. He lived a long and remarkable life, touching so many of us with love and compassion! Leaving behind a legacy that ought to inspire each and every one of us; all along the way doing it always with his amazing brand of humor.”
Lease negotiations for the city land are expected to continue and conclude by the end of the year. The donation will help enable BRADEC to further the necessary work required to formulate the new center’s design, programming and community engagement efforts.
“The city looks forward to continuing our work with BRADEC to finalize the ground lease, which will be a major milestone for the center,” says Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.
For more information, visit Bocaratonartscenter.org
