Chihuly at Cheekwood Breaks Records

The Chihuly at Cheekwood exhibit is wrapping up this weekend after record number of visitors. So far 240,000 people have come through the gates to see the handblown glass structures placed throughout Cheekwood’s gardens.

The success should be a boon to the non-profit arts organization. Last year, Cheekwood laid off six people and scrapped one of its planned exhibits. Corporate donations to the arts are down nationwide because of the economy.

Cheekwood President Joan Offebach says the money brought in from Chihuly will help offset the decline in donations.

“The big bottom line effect is on gate admissions. I can tell you that compared to a typical year at Cheekwood, this exhibition is about 600 percent higher than what we would normally have.”

Cheekwood extended the Chihuly exhibit through this weekend because it was so popular. Lighting the glass sculptures at night proved to be a such a hit that Offebach says the gardens will open at night for future exhibitions.