Portland, July 29th, 2015. The Portland Art Museum’s Patron Society members celebrated summer and the current Gods and Heroes exhibition under clear, warm skies. The courtyard of the museum was filled with good cheer and the sounds of Portland band, Boy and Bean. Members of the Patron Society, like David Lokting and Alysia Duckler, are the Museum’s most generous annual donors. Their donations help more than 300,000 visitors expand their minds through the power of art.

Jim Mark

Portland Art Museum Patron Society Member, Jim Mark

Luke Short of Boy and Bean

Luke Short of Boy and Bean

John Goodwin and Keith Martin

John Goodwin and Keith Martin

Portland Art Museum executive director Brian Ferriso.

Portland Art Museum Executive Director, Brian Ferriso.

Did you know….

The oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum was founded in late 1892 when seven leaders from Portland’s business and cultural institutions created the Portland Art Association. The goal of the Association was to create a first-class art museum that would be accessible to all citizens.

The Museum purchased its first collection, approximately one hundred plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures, with a gift of $10,000 from prominent local citizen Henry Corbett. Two other local citizens, Winslow B. Ayer and his wife, selected the casts during a trip to Europe after receiving advice from professionals at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations.

The Portland Art Museum believes that the experience of original works of art enriches and changes people’s lives.  Art inspires new ways of understanding the present and our place in the world.  By providing a welcoming environment for the public to look, talk, and reflect on works of visual and media art, the Museum deepens our collective understanding of humanity, builds community, and contributes to a thriving civic life.  The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum:

Creativity

The arts are at the core of our humanity, representing a timeless human impulse.

Connection

The arts touch us and connect us across time, geography, and cultural differences, shedding light on how humans interact with their world.

Learning

The arts open us to diverse ideas and ways of knowing ourselves, our community, and our world.

Accessibility

The arts must be economically, intellectually, and physically accessible to everyone.

Accountability

Transparency and careful stewardship of resources—including collections, staff, facilities, and investments – are essential for mission fulfillment now and in the future.

The Portland Art Museum is the leading cultural institution in the state and region.  Its hallmarks are innovation, excellence, and engaged community partnerships.  The Museum presents a relevant and dynamic program originating from its collections and Film Center.  With historically preserved and newly designed architectural space of the highest quality, the Museum invites, inspires, and fosters contemplation and discussion.  As a beacon for culture and education for our growing and evolving community, the Museum is known for its exceptional trustees, staff, programs, collections, and visitor amenities.

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