Jeanette Cole

Rendering of new building to be constructed

Front of museum showing how the new signage will look

The Santa Paula Art Museum is pleased to announce $1 million gift from Lecil “Lee” Cole and Family to honor his wife, Jeanette, who was a docent and a great supporter of the Museum. The gift will establish the “Jeanette Cole Art Center” at the Santa Paula Art Museum. Jeanette was one of the first docents at the Santa Paula Art Museum and she unexpectedly passed away on September 3, 2011. “Jeanette was so grateful to all the many people that worked so hard to make the Art Museum a reality and to Jennifer Orcutt Heighton for doing such a great job managing the museum. Jeanette really wanted the museum to be a success and this donation on her behalf will help make that happen” said Lee Cole.

Jeanette was born in Louisberg, Missouri on December 20, 1940 and she came to California with her family in 1954. She attended Santa Paula High School, graduating in 1958 and on October 5 of that same year, she married her high school sweetheart Lecil “Lee” Cole. In 1960 Jeanette began work with Santa Paula Savings and Loan, where she rose through the ranks and was ultimately promoted to insurance agent for the company. She retired in 1985 to devote more of her time to helping expand the family’s ranching operations and her hobbies. She was devoted to her grandchildren and cherished every moment spent with them. Jeanette was a tremendous advocate for the Museum, one of its first docents, a great salesperson in the gift shop and she always took the time to talk to museum visitors.

“We are absolutely overjoyed with the extremely generous gift from the Cole family that will carry the name of Jeanette Cole, our cherished friend and docent”, said Bill Orcutt, President of Santa Paula Art Museum Board of Directors. Orcutt went on to say “the gift will help make a lasting contribution to the arts in Santa Paula and serve as a permanent reminder of Jeanette and all she contributed to the community.”

The Santa Paula Art Museum has come a long way in three short years. In May, 2009 restoration and renovation of the Limoneira Building on Tenth Street in Santa Paula began and eight months later, on February 14, 2010, the Santa Paula Art Museum opened in a completely restored and renovated building. Since that time SPAM has acquired over 60 new works of art, produced over 14 curated shows using works from the Santa Paula Art Collection, local artists and the award-winning annual “De Colores Art Show”. This year 4,500 people visited the museum over 40 people volunteered their time to serve as docents.

The success of the Museum has created a new problem – more space is needed for community art programs, classroom and conference space for art lectures and other cultural events, meeting space and additional storage space for the growing collection, as well as an elevator to access the mezzanine and basement. Phase II expansion plans include building a new Art Center and Courtyard which will serve as a new multi-purpose gathering space with a performing arts stage for the public to enjoy various multicultural functions.

The SPAM Board plans to use the generous $1 million Cole gift as part of this capital expansion and to seek grant funds to complete the project. The Cole gift will enable implementation of the Phase II and the Jeanette Cole Art Center expansion to get underway. Phase II Expansion consists of:

New Two-Story Art Center - $1,580,645
Museums Courtyard - $585,350
Total Cost - $2,165,995