Museum renames Middle East gallery for William Davidson

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Institute of Arts is renaming its revamped Ancient Middle East gallery in recognition of $5 million grant from the William Davidson Foundation.

The museum on Tuesday announced that the gallery will be called the William Davidson Gallery and the money will go to the museum's endowment.

The gallery includes art from the ancient empires of Assyria, Babylonia Persia and others.

Davidson died in 2009 at age 86. He owned the Detroit Pistons and Auburn Hills-based Guardian Industries, an auto industry glass products supplier.

The museum is planning to include a section in the gallery on the production of glass in the ancient Middle East region and has begun conversations with the Israel Antiquities Authority to obtain loans of glass and ceramics to enhance the gallery.

Published: Thu, Jan 28, 2016