--Gift to Support a Select Special Exhibition Annually --
DALLAS, TX – November 7, 2018 – The Dallas Museum of Art announced today that its longtime patrons Beverly and Donald S. Freeman have awarded $4 million to the Museum to establish the Freeman Family Exhibition Endowment. This exceptional gift is designed to advance the presentation of special exhibitions across the DMA’s encyclopedic collection, providing robust opportunities for the Museum to engage audiences with the presentation of art across cultures and time in innovative ways. As part of the endowment, each year the Freeman Family will select one special exhibition from the Museum’s program for which it will offer significant support.
In 2015, the Freemans awarded $1.5 million to the Museum to establish The Bonnie Pitman Education Endowment to Do Something New fund, benefiting the DMA’s education programs and in honor of its former Director. Earlier gifts by the couple were also made in support of the Museum’s education initiatives.
“This is an exciting moment in the Museum’s history, and the Dallas Museum of Art deeply appreciates this generous gift from Don and Beverly Freeman. They are longstanding patrons of the Museum, including Beverly’s remarkable four decades as a valued DMA docent. We are grateful for this significant new gift and for their continued passion in support of our celebrated education programs,” said Dr. Agustín Arteaga, The Eugene McDermott Director. “The establishment of the Freeman Family Exhibition Endowment supports the Museum’s commitment to developing engaging exhibitions that highlight the diversity and strength of the DMA’s extraordinary collection.”
Donald S. and Beverly Freeman have for more than 20 years provided generous support to the institution, with a primary focus on its educational enterprises. Among the DMA’s most dedicated volunteers, Mrs. Freeman joined its docent program in 1978 and continues to conduct tours of the Museum’s collection and exhibitions for groups of visitors, especially elementary school students. Beginning in 1993, she has served consistently on the DMA Board of Trustees, and is actively involved in its Learning and Engagement Committee, having been its chair in 2015–2016. In addition, Mrs. Freeman is a member of the DMA League Board and the honorary chairman of the DMA League’s 2019 Art in Bloom fundraiser, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, and to be held on March 31, 2019.
About the Dallas Museum of Art
Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is among the 10 largest art museums in the country and is distinguished by its commitment to research, innovation, and public engagement. At the heart of the Museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more than 24,000 works and spans 5,000 years of history, representing a full range of world cultures. Located in the nation’s largest arts district, the Museum acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic and dance presentations. Since the Museum’s return to free general admission in 2013, the DMA has welcomed more than 4 million visitors. For more information, visit DMA.org.
The Dallas Museum of Art is supported, in part, by the generosity of DMA Members and donors, the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
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For more information, please contact:
Jill Bernstein
214-922-1802
JBernstein@DMA.org