The intersection of art and technology is the focus of the Eisemann Edge Endowment Fund, a new, multiyear programmatic partnership between the city-operated Eisemann Center and The University of Texas at Dallas.

Made possible by a $250,000 donation from longtime community benefactors Charles and Ann Eisemann, the fund will support innovative visual art exhibits and performances. Students from UTD's Arts, Technology and Emerging Communications department will design, develop and install the exhibits, according to Eisemann Center Managing Director Bruce MacPherson.

"This is not the traditional way you would approach the arts," MacPherson said.

Richardson's dynamic reputation was the inspiration behind the fund, Charles Eisemann said at a March 4 City Council meeting. He and Ann wanted to pay homage to the city's diverse citizenry and reputation as a progressive tech hub.

"One of the things Richardson is known for ... is the ability to reinvent itself," he said. "... We wanted something new; we wanted something innovative; we wanted something that broke silos, that brought communities together," he said.

The majority of money within the fund—$200,000—will be used to sustain the program. The remaining $50,000 will be split between 2020 and 2021 and will serve as seed money to get the program off the ground, MacPherson said. By Year 3, MacPherson said the goal is to have private donations as the primary funding source.

An interactive visual arts presentation using projection technology to display images on the walls of the Eisemann's Mezzanine Gallery will debut March 6, 2020, and will be open to the public for viewing until March 29, MacPherson said.