Lyric Opera in Chicago receives $20M from Colburn family to bolster arts education

The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced a $20 million award from Richard and Robin Colburn through their Negaunee Foundation to expand arts education and strengthen long-term programming. Half of the funding will establish an endowment, a permanent fund supporting Lyric’s education programs, including in-school and family initiatives and partnerships with the Merit School of Music and the Music Institute of Chicago. The remaining $10 million creates the Negaunee Fund for Mozart, supporting annual opera productions. The commitment positions Lyric to deepen youth engagement, broaden community access, and sustain large-scale artistic programming for decades.