SmithsonianCampaign SMITHSONIAN american art museum
elizabeth broun director smithsonian american art museum Leadership Message The Smithsonian American Art Museum We have talented curators in many areas, began in a young democracy eager to the largest research fellowship program become a great civilization. Since the in our field and dynamic educators who 1830s, each generation of Americans has reach across the country and around the contributed its best artworks, building an world. We are in the forefront of new media extraordinary collection, which offers great with major time-based art collections, insight into the American experience. distance-learning programs and deep research resources online. Our main museum building was inspired by the Parthenon, and our elegant branch The Smithsonian Campaign will advance museum, the Renwick Gallery the our commitment to our expanding audience first purpose-built art museum in the and tell the stories of today s America in country was inspired by the Louvre. new ways. We invite your participation. Now we have become a world-class 21st Thank you. century museum with innovative, new museum facilities, including a visible conservation center, state-of-the-art public art storage area and a modern education center. Our goal $65 million The Smithsonian American Art Museum chronicles the American experience through its rich collection, pioneering research and innovative exhibitions. It showcases artists from colonial to contemporary times. The Smithsonian Campaign will broaden the museum s scholarship and increase access through technology to reach a worldwide audience. 1
Case for Support Endow Art in America Your investment in the campaign will broaden the museum s scholarship and increase access to its rich collection. Nam June Paik, Megatron/Matrix, 1995. Smithsonian American Art Museum purchase made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Barney A. Ebsworth, Nelson C. White and the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment Photo Amy Vaughters Curatorial Endowment Curators are critical to our commitment to collecting, deciphering and sharing American art. The museum s curators must be scholars in specific areas of art, with deep knowledge and expert judgment for collecting. At the same time, they must be creative and have a passion to share ideas. One of our most urgent priorities is to secure endowment support for these leaders. A gift to endow curators ensures that the museum continues to break new ground in scholarship and programming, which will benefit future generations of museumgoers. Media Arts Endowment The museum s curators are building a substantial collection of video and media artworks. The archive of visionary artist Nam June Paik is the cornerstone of the collection. He is known as the father of video art, for transforming video into an artist s tool through his sculptures and installations. To stay ahead of this dynamic 21st century medium and to collect work from new artists, the museum seeks investments in an endowment for Media Arts Initiatives. This endowment will support curators, acquisitions, online resources and preservation of time-based work. Education Endowment We are dedicated to making the museum s collection and research accessible to teachers and students across the country. Our art is the foundation for educational programming online and in the museum. We seek gifts of endowments as well as gifts for current use to provide stable, yet flexible funding. These resources will support our education team, content development and testing, website and professional development and video conferencing. 2 3
Our Campaign Priorities Creating a 21st century museum will require new commitments and extraordinary acts of generosity. Endowment for Curators Our goal is to create an endowment for $15 million. Gifts of $4 million endow a chief curator position. Gifts of $2.5 million endow curatorships. Endowment for Media Arts We seek an endowment of $5 million. An investment of $2.5 million funds a curatorship. Gifts of $25,000 will support acquisitions and special initiatives. Endowment for Education We seek an endowment of $20 million. Gifts starting at $100,000 will support educational programming. The Smithsonian Campaign will transform a national treasure into a catalyst for change. Please join us as we raise $1.5 billion to spark discovery, tell America s story, inspire lifelong learning and reach people everywhere. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is raising $65 million of the Smithsonian Campaign s overall goal. John Singer Sargent, Stable at Cuenca, 1903. Smithsonian American Art Museum Museum, purchase, 2014, funded by the American Art Forum and through the Catherine Walden Myer and Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment for more information, call 202.633.8420 or visit smithsoniancampaign.org. SmithsonianCampaign
COVER Lincoln Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum Smithsonian American Art Museum americanart.si.edu office of advancement 750 9th Street, NW Victor Building, Suite 3100 Washington, DC 20001 202.633.8420