<p>Arts patrons Marvin and Betty Danto pledged $1 million to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art for children's programs, the museum announced today.</p>
<p>John Wetenhall, the museum's director, said in a prepared statement that the gift comes on the eve of the opening of a 133,000-square-foot education and conservation building at the museum's campus at University Parkway and North Tamiami Trail.</p>
<p>"Mr. and Mrs. Danto's gift enables us to expanding our existing education programs and offer even greater opportunities to children and families," Wetenhall said.</p>
<p>Children's programs include classroom visits to the museum, curriculum-teaching materials, Internet-based teaching programs, and children's art-making activities.</p>
<p>The gift is eligible for a state match of $750,000 under the state's matching grant program for public universities. The Ringling Museum of Art is the state art museum and part of Florida State University.</p>
<p>The education and conservation building, set to open in late fall 2006, has classrooms, meeting spaces, an art library, conservation lab and art storage.</p>