The Miami University Art Museum was renamed the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum following a major gift by the couple, which officials say will help support future renovations and acquisitions. 

The amount of the gift was not released by the university. Neither Richard, 87, of Indian Hill, nor Carole, who died in 2012, are alumni of the university. They have donated more than 60 artworks to the museum since 1983.

Miami’s art museum became Ohio’s first accredited university museum in 1984 and is one of 21  accredited museums in Ohio. Out of 33,000 museums nationwide, 1,099 currently hold  accredited status. 

Last month, the museum also announced that it had been re-awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, governments, funders, outside agencies, and the museum-going public, according to the Miami University Art Museum’s press release. 

“This acknowledgment is testimony to the reputation of the museum. It further reaffirms to the wider community that the museum meets best practices in the field as a steward of collections and resources and as an exceptional teaching entity in support of Miami students,” said John  Weigand, acting dean of the College of Creative Arts.

The museum opened in 1978 and currently houses more than 17,500 pieces of art.