
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.

Become a Member
Join the FAMily! By becoming a FAM member, you make a strong statement that creativity and the arts are important, and you allow FAM to continue to inspire and educate our entire community through thought-proving exhibitions and programs that explore the connections between art, culture, and life. In return for your gift, we get to thank you with some great benefits. Memberships can be purchased online, at FAM, or by calling our Membership Director Craig Hamilton Arnold at 559.441.4221 x132.
All members enjoy these primary benefits:
- Personalized membership card
- Free admission to Museum galleries
- Free admission to opening receptions, Conversations with the Artist/Curator, and member-only events and lectures
- Discounts on bus excursions, adult workshops and classes, and some special events
- 10% discount in FAM’s museum store (opening soon!)
- Two guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
- $50 Individual
All primary membership benefits for one person
- $75 Family
All primary membership benefits for two adults PLUS
Free admission to Museum galleries for children up to 18 living in the same household
Discount on Art Academy classes
Two guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $150 Contributing (+NARM)
All benefits of Family PLUS
Automatically enrolled in North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM)*
Four guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $500 Benefactor (+NARM)
All benefits of Contributing PLUS
Member’s name displayed under Benefactor on the FAM website
Special opportunities when renting the Museum for private events
Ten guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $1000 Patron (+NARM)
All benefits of Benefactor PLUS
One free Family Gift Membership
Member’s name displayed on Donor Wall and FAM website
Twelve guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- Seniors (65+) can deduct 10% for the selected Membership Level, if desired. Please stop by the Museum to join at any senior level.
* NARM Program offers free or reduced admission and discounts at over 800 participating museums in North America.
See http://narmassociation.org
- AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIPS
All members of FAM can also be members of these special interest groups:
$50
- Council of 100
Membership dues help to underwrite the Distinguished Woman Artist Award and the continuing expansion of opportunities for women artists
$30 Women’s Auxiliary
Volunteer and social organization
- $50 Individual All primary membership benefits for one person
- $75 Family All primary membership benefits for two adults PLUS Free admission to Museum galleries for children up to 18 living in the same household Discount on Art Academy classes Two guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $150 Contributing (+NARM) All benefits of Family PLUS Automatically enrolled in North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM)* Four guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $500 Benefactor (+NARM) All benefits of Contributing PLUS Member’s name displayed under Benefactor on the FAM website Special opportunities when renting the Museum for private events Ten guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- $1000 Patron (+NARM) All benefits of Benefactor PLUS One free Family Gift Membership Member’s name displayed on Donor Wall and FAM website Twelve guest passes for one-time regular Museum admission
- Seniors (65+) can deduct 10% for the selected Membership Level, if desired. Please stop by the Museum to join at any senior level.
- AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIPS All members of FAM can also be members of these special interest groups: $50
- Council of 100 Membership dues help to underwrite the Distinguished Woman Artist Award and the continuing expansion of opportunities for women artists $30 Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer and social organization
* NARM Program offers free or reduced admission and discounts at over 800 participating museums in North America. See http://narmassociation.org
Please contact us at the email or number below to join the Affiliate groups.
Click here to become a Museum MemberWe also offer corporate memberships. Please click here for information on how your company can support FAM.
FOR MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR AT membership@fresnoartmuseum.org or by calling 559.441.4221 x132
The Fresno Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your membership fees may be fully or partially tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.
Employment Information
There are no job opportunities at FAM at this time.
Show your Artwork
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.
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
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.
Contact Us
Fresno Art Museum
2233 North First Street
Fresno, CA 93703
559-441-4221