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El Paso Museum of Art
Foundation
Founded in 1998, the EPMA Foundation is a Texas Non-Profit
Corporation - a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal
Revenue Code. It is organized exclusively for the benefit of the Museum
to provide long-term funding for acquisitions, conservation/preservation,
education and interpretation, and related areas of Museum functions
not provided for by the City of El Paso's operational funding. It
is governed by a board of individual El Paso citizens, with committees
for Development, Planned Giving, and Investment.
When you make a gift to the EPMA Foundation, you are ensuring the Museum's future as a diverse cultural treasure for all Border region citizens, guests, and growing numbers of tourists. Naming opportunities for spaces in the Museum and for endowed funds are available. Please call 915/532-1707 for more information on how to become an EPMA Foundation donor.
Scenes from  Gala Spectacular April 14, 2007.
Message From The El Paso Museum of Art Foundation Chair
Your El Paso Museum of Art Foundation has been quite active this spring and summer raising endowment funds, hosting lectures, creating a new support group for the Museum, and accepting a new major gift to our permanent endowment fund. The Foundation, formed in 1998, is a tax exempt charitable and educational non-profit corporation, which is separate from the Museum and the City of El Paso (which owns and operates the Museum and provides staff salary and benefits, operating and maintenance funds). The Foundation acts a separate and independent organization to receive major donor and endowment gifts which in turn funds museum purposes not funded by public funds from the City of El Paso. It is governed by a Board of volunteer individuals separate and apart from city and other public officials and boards, but still having the Museum as its sole beneficiary. The Articles of Incorporation of the Foundation limit the use of its funds to acquisitions for the permanents collections of the Museum, conservation and preservation of the collections, education and and interpretation relative to the collections and other related purposes of the Museum.
Our largest fundraising event, our gala AZUL, sold out to the amazement of all before any formal invitations were mailed. The museum staff led by Jeff Romney and an outstanding gala committee produced a truly spectacular event in a dreamlike setting that brought forth expressions of “fantastic” and “wow’! Many guests commented that they felt transported to a world class nightclub. This first effort of our staff and volunteers at hosting a major gala not related to a Museum exhibit opening was a resounding success. Plans are well underway for next year’s event.
Our new Collector’s Club, an organization formed to support the Foundation, provides a forum for enthusiasts to gather and learn about art, art collecting and create travel opportunities to various museums and cities throughout the world. The first excursion was to Casas Grandes, Mexico and the ruins of Paquime , the pottery town of Mata Ortiz and The Mormon colony of Colonia Juarez. In October, the group will journey to Philadelphia to view an exhibit of Renoir landscapes at The Philadelphia Museum of Art and to visit the world famous Barnes Collection. All Museum members are eligible to join the Collectors Club.
In August, funds from the Peter and Mardee deWetter endowment provided the first lecture on “Hidden Masterpieces” from the European Collection. Jon Seydl from the Cleveland Museum of Art lectured on Artemesia Gentilleschi to an enthusiatic audience. Foundation funds will provide future visiting scholar lectures in November and December.
The El Paso Museum of Art Foundation hosted the final commemorative dinner of the TOM LEA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Many outstanding Texans and friends from around the country of Tom and Sarah Lea attended this tribute dinner held at the Museum. A particularly poignant video interview with Tom Lea culminated the evening’s events.
The Foundation received a major gift from the family of Frank and Sara McKnight which will be used to support the exhibition and preservation of the McKnight’s retablo collection. The Museum will open the collection with an exhibition and lecture this October.
Finally, the Foundation would like to extend kudos and heartfelt thanks to retiring, long serving board members Adair Margo, Marlene Stewart and Harry Stone. Adair has been with the Foundation since its inception, and she provided years of outstanding leadership in her capacity of Chairman. We will miss her, and Marlene and Harry, but we know they will remain staunch supporters of our El Paso Museum of Art.
Finally, I would like to extend special thanks to Katherine Brennand for her many years of board service and her sound advice. Also, the Board is most grateful for the tireless service of Advisory Member, Sam Moore, and, we truly appreciate the efforts in our behalf of Rebecca Krasne, our Foundation Board liason to the AZUL gala committee. We look forward to an exciting and fruitful upcoming year.
Jack Maxon, Chair
September 1, 2007
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