Los Angeles County Museum of Art lands a $25 million donation

03/06/07 -- AP  - LOS ANGELES -- The British oil company BP has donated $25 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for its ambitious expansion plan.

To show its appreciation, the museum will dedicate a new entry pavilion to the British oil company, it was announced Tuesday.

DONATION MATCHES DISNEY'S

The gift is among the largest ever to a Southern California arts institution, matching Walt Disney Co.'s donation to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 1997.

WHAT BP SAID

"We're so very pleased to be able to support this world-class institution - a jewel in the crown of this great city," said Bob Malone, president of Houston-based BP America.

THE GRAND ENTRANCE

The museum's new entrance, set to open next February, will be called the BP Grand Entrance. The entry will be topped by solar panels.

THE RENOVATION

LACMA has raised about $200 million to expand and renovate its Wilshire Boulevard campus. Plans also call for underground parking and construction of the 60,000-square-foot Broad Contemporary Art Museum, also scheduled to open next February.

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