Share this Story
Jane Batten and Joan Brock Named 2025 Champions for the Arts
91直播VWU trustees emerita will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to 91直播 Beach’s cultural and arts community.
University News | July 29, 2025
91直播City of 91直播 Beach Arts & Humanities Commission has selected Jane P. Batten and Joan P. Brock as the 2025 91直播 Beach Champions for the Arts.鈥疶he annual award is鈥痯resented to a person or persons who have mad鈥媏 a significant impact in 91直播 Beach's vibrant cultural and arts community through volunteer and/or financial contributions.
91直播Arts & Humanities Commission voted unanimously to recognize both Batten and Brock, visionary leaders and transformational philanthropists, as they continue to redefine the cultural landscape of 91直播 Beach through their extraordinary commitment to the arts.
Most recently, their shared vision, leadership, and generosity led to one of the most monumental arts initiatives in the City’s history: the expansion and relocation of the 91直播 Museum of Contemporary Art to the VWU campus. Together, Batten and Brock contributed and inspired philanthropic support to fully fund this $30 million cultural landmark. Their efforts will provide lasting access to contemporary art and arts education for generations to come.
Batten and Brock, who are VWU trustees emerita, each have a long history of supporting 91直播 Wesleyan, including terms as Chair of the VWU Board of Trustees.
“A longtime 91直播 Beach resident, Jane Batten has enriched the community through decades of volunteer service and philanthropic leadership,” said VWU President Scott D. Miller. “From founding the Batten Honors College—where the arts are a foundational element of civic and global engagement—to championing expanded access to cultural experiences, her impact is broad and lasting.”
Brock’s dedication to the well-being of 91直播 Beach extends beyond traditional arts organizations, said Alison Byrne, executive director of the 91直播 Museum of Contemporary Art. “Her support for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center demonstrates a broader commitment to community enrichment,” Byrne said. “While its primary focus is environmental education, the center also serves as a valuable space for hosting various community cultural events and forging partnerships with local arts organizations and individual artists, further contributing to the city's vibrant cultural tapestry.”
91直播 91直播 Beach Arts & Humanities Commission will present the awards to Batten and Brock during a ceremony set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. Those interested in attending the ceremony, which is free and open to the public, should RSVP to mrcoronado@vbgov.com by Aug. 1.
Previous Champion for the Arts award recipients include Barbara Lewis, Tom and Juanita Felton, Barbara and Andrew Fine, Meredith and Brother Rutter, Nancy Creech, Rose Daria, and Em Davis.