Museum History

MISSION STATEMENT

The Fresno Art Museum offers a dynamic experience for appreciating art. The museum welcomes, inspires, and educates a diverse regional audience through significant exhibitions, thought-provoking programs, and meaningful interactions with artists and the creative process.

MUSEUM HISTORY

In the late 1940’s, a group of local artists formed the Fresno Art League to provide a forum to exhibit and critique each other’s work and to share their enthusiasm for art. The League gathered support for their organization from the community and in 1949, the Fresno Arts Center was incorporated. In 1960, after years of planning, the Fresno Arts Center building in Radio Park was dedicated.

The Fresno Arts Center became an active venue for art exhibitions and educational programs including artist talks, workshops, and art classes for children and adults. A mission statement, goals, and objectives were developed. The Arts Center was granted accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 1973, after an extensive study of the Center’s organization, finances, staff expertise, programs, care and storage of the permanent collection, and physical facilities. It has maintained its accreditation continuously since then.

Donated and purchased works of art have increased the size and strength of the Fresno Art Museum's permanent collection over the years. The scope of the collection, which had once included a mummified pigeon from ancient Egypt as well as the work of local artists, was refined over time. It currently has a focus on modern and contemporary works by American artists (painting, sculpture, prints, photographs, and other media). Pre-Columbian works from Mesoamerica and the Andes comprise a significant part of the collection, as do both modern works and folk art of Mexican origin.

In recognition of the growing extent of the permanent collection, the Board of Trustees in 1985 changed the Center’s name to the Fresno Arts Center and Museum. The name was changed to the Fresno Art Museum in 1988, following a suggestion from the American Association of Museums that was made during the reaccreditation process.

The Museum’s exhibitions have included a wide range of visual arts media (painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, and fine crafts such as fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry, glass) by local as well as nationally and internationally known artists. While the Museum is best known for showing modern and contemporary art, exhibitions that reflect the visual arts traditions of the ethnic groups that contribute to the rich diversity of the Central Valley have been part of the exhibition schedule from the early years. Cultural and issue-related exhibitions in a variety of artistic media have been given increased prominence in recent years.

THE FRESNO ART MUSEUM BUILDING

Construction costs for the original Fresno Arts Center facility, built in 1960, were shared by the City of Fresno and the Arts Center ($30,000 each). The Arts Center then deeded the building to the City and entered into a contract to lease it for $1.00 a year. The terms of the contract specify that the City is responsible for the maintenance of the building’s exterior, while the Arts Center (now Fresno Art Museum) is responsible for its interior. Since the 1970’s, the building has undergone a number of major expansions, all of which were funded by generous community donors. In the 40 years between 1960 and 2000, the size of the building grew from its original 10,000 square feet to over 27,000. The additions included a number of exhibition galleries, a kitchen, gift shop, the Bonner Auditorium, the expanded entrance and entry plaza, and the Sculpture Garden. The vaults that house the permanent collection were added to and upgraded, as were the curatorial and preparatory spaces and the administrative offices.

AUXILLARY ORGANIZATIONS

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Fresno Art Museum, founded by the Junior League in the 1960’s as the Women’s Board, has been a significant volunteer organization for the Museum, as well as a source of financial support, throughout its history.

The Council of 100 was originally formed to provide financial and other support for the Museum’s year-long celebration of the work of women artists in 1986/1987. Annually since 1988, the Fresno Art Museum has exhibited the work of the Council’s Distinguished Woman Artist of the Year award winner.

a variety of ways to support the Museum

Donate

Join the vibrant community of Fresno Art Museum supporters and partner with us in bringing high quality exhibitions and education programs to our community through making a contribution to our Annual Fund or giving through one of the other opportunities below.

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund provides the Museum with essential operating support. Your tax-deductible donation helps make possible everything we do, from exhibitions to art workshops, lectures to public programs, educational programs, outreach, and community events. Donate today to the 2014/15 Annual Fund by clicking here.

Underwriting

Individuals or businesses can choose to directly underwrite an exhibition season (approximately five exhibitions) or a specific exhibition, an educational program, or a special event. Underwriters enjoy a variety of benefits that engage them with the art and ideas of our time.

Matching Gifts

Many companies sponsor such programs for their employees so you may be able to double your gift to the Fresno Art Museum.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities

The Fresno Art Museum encourages such gifts, which are fully tax-deductible to the donor at their appreciated value. To transfer a gift of stock, call Michele Ellis Pracy, FAM Executive Director to discuss and to be connected with our broker.

Bequests and Legacies

Please consider the Fresno Art Museum in your long-term planning. Planned gifts help us to meet immediate, as well as long-term goals. The Museum is also grateful to be named a beneficiary of a trust or will, or of a life insurance policy. Such charitable gifts are fully deductible by the donor’s estate.

The Fresno Art Museum’s EIN/Tax ID# is 94-1358318. We encourage multi-year pledges and other forms of deductible donations.

To make or discuss your donation, please call 559-441-4221 x 103 or e-mail Michele Ellis Pracy, Executive Director.

Artist / Guest Curator Submissions

ARTISTS & ARTIST’S AGENTS

FAM welcomes submissions from artists for review for possible exhibition, but asks that prior to submitting your work you consider FAM’S mission, educational programming, current exhibitions, and FAM’s exhibition archive in order to determine whether your submission is an appropriate match for the Museum. The best means to determine the appropriateness of your submission would be to visit the Museum and tour the changing exhibitions. If this is not possible, please explore FAM’S website and browse our current and past exhibitions.

You may submit artwork on CD or DVD (as high resolution jpg files not exceeding 15MB in size for each image) or you may direct us to a URL address where we can view the work online. Photographs are also permitted, however, digital files of the images are preferred. Please label each image with your name, title of the work, date created, media, and dimensions. We cannot accept actual works of art.

Include a cover letter, a brief description of the project, and your bio or CV which should include a list of past shows and awards. Also, please see instructions below on sending materials.

GUEST CURATORS

FAM exhibits traditional and contemporary art and cultural/ethnographic exhibitions of all kinds, in all media. Guest curators may propose solo or group exhibitions. We strive to create unique, thought-provoking, educational exhibitions representing diversity and cultural connections that relate to and reflect the population and issues here in the San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Potential curators not familiar with FAM's exhibitions or our physical venue are encouraged to visit the Museum.

Curators: What to include in your proposal:

-A list of what will be on exhibition (artists, titles, media, dimensions, proposed layout).
-A one-page description of the exhibition. -Curatorial bio or resume, with contact information. -Visuals submitted as jpegs. (Please submit link to high-resolution images online or provide on CD.)
-A description of target audiences.
-Examples of at least two programs (talks, speakers, workshops, etc.) in conjunction with the exhibit, including your commitment as guest curator to work with Museum Education Department in training of docents and art instructors about the exhibition.
-A list of what special equipment and materials are anticipated to be necessary to mount exhibition, if applicable. (Moveable walls, pedestals, etc.)
-A proposed funding strategy identifying potential sponsors, grants, etc.
-A proposed marketing strategy (with budget).

FAM provides:

FAM hosts selected exhibitions for a period of three to four months; coordinates with curators and artists receipt of shipped artworks and artists’ texts; promotes, installs, de-installs, and displays exhibitions, as well as archiving exhibitions on its website; provides insurance for artwork while in the Museum’s possession; coordinates educational programming.

Send material to:

Submissions
Fresno Art Museum
2233 N First Street
Fresno, CA 93703
OR click here to send via email

For mailed submissions, include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) if you would like your materials returned. Materials submitted without a self-addressed stamped envelope will not be returned. Please note that the Fresno Art Museum cannot be held responsible for submitted material.

The Museum will not accept phone calls or emails or grant in-person appointments, but we can assure you that we will review all properly completed submissions. Because of the volume of submissions received, the review process may take several months or more. In the event that we wish to further consider your work, we will contact you directly. Thank you for your interest in the Fresno Art Museum.

employment opportunities

Sorry there are no job opportunities at FAM at this time.