One of the world’s greatest collections of art is entrusted to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It is the Museum’s mission to share it, teach others about it, and preserve it for future generations. As the MFA continues to serve more than one million visitors annually, Patron Program support reaches the widest possible audience. Your support as Patron members makes an impact on every facet of this Museum. Read on to discover just a few examples from this current fiscal year.
As the Museum celebrates Japanese art and culture this spring with exhibitions and programs including “Hokusai,” in tandem, the Patron Program has played an important role by supporting the activities of the Department of Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa. This year, Patron support has provided for the regular rotation of textiles, paintings, and other light sensitive materials in the galleries. In these same galleries, support from the Patron Program underwrote the costs to research, conserve, and display more than 50 objects.
Looking from the Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa to the Art of the Ancient World, Patrons should take pride in the new galleries unveiled this past fall dedicated to Wine, Poets, and Performers in Ancient Greece. Patron funds supported the costs associated with operating the daily climate control for the Art of the Ancient World galleries including the newest galleries, in addition to the development of a new Greek galleries mini tour for the MFA Guide and for the mfamobile spots in the galleries.
As much as we all want to forget the many inches of snow that filled our city’s streets and sidewalks this winter and made travel and even leaving the house just plain difficult, Patrons should feel proud of the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the MFA’s facilities team to ensure that the Museum could be opened safely for the public. Support from the Patron Program helped the MFA clear the three main entrances in addition to all 10 emergency egresses, two parking lots, and the parking garage roof, as well as shoveling, salting, and sanding. Large quantities of snow were cleared from the roof of the Museum this winter, including more than 112 tons from the roof of the Art of the Americas Wing via crane!
We look forward to continuing to provide our Patrons with regular updates about the range of activities the program supports each year. Stay tuned for more!