Portrait of Philanthropy: Joan and Bernard Spain

Joan and Bernard Spain appreciate the beauty of life—all that engages the mind, touches the heart, and delights the eye—and work to ensure that its possibilities are available to everyone. Together, they have forged accomplished professional lives, nurtured a caring and committed family, actively supported a broad roster of worthy causes, and pursued their passionate interests in art and design. This was celebrated with the 2007 opening of the Joan Spain Gallery for Costume and Textiles in the Perelman Building, dedicated by Mr. Spain in honor of his wife.

Mr. and Mrs. Spain are native Philadelphians. Mr. Spain’s father was a grocer in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, not far from the Museum. Mrs. Spain’s father was in the furniture business, inspiring in her a lifelong interest in interior design, textiles, and furniture styles. The couple began collecting art shortly after they wed. Their artistic interests include sculpture, Art Deco furniture, Chinese and Japanese antiquities, American painting, and more.

But it’s their shared enthusiasm for fashion that has most involved them with the Museum. "Fashion is clothing, and that’s something that everyone can relate to," notes Mrs. Spain. "It’s a form of self-expression. And we have enormous respect for fashion designers. A successful designer has to be a talented artist and an astute businessperson."

The Spains are members of the Museum’s Chairman’s Council, and Mrs. Spain is a member of the Committee for Costume and Textiles. She and her husband have long championed Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. Mrs. Spain is president of the University’s Friends of the Design Arts, and Mr. Spain is chairman of the Philadelphia Fashion Council, which supports the University’s fashion-design program. In honor of Mrs. Spain, Philadelphia-born designer Ralph Rucci presented four of his gowns to the Museum. They feature prominently in A Passion for Perfection: James Galanos, Gustave Tassell, Ralph Rucci, the inaugural exhibition in the Joan Spain Gallery.

A graduate of Central High School and Temple University’s School of Business, Mr. Spain and his brother, Murray, founded the Spain’s Card and Gift and Dollar Express stores. After the sale of Dollar Express in 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Spain—with their daughters, Dana Spain-Smith and Debra Kelly—formed a family philanthropic foundation with a particular commitment to Philadelphia and, especially, its children. Mr. and Mrs. Spain also play important roles in a variety of other arts, educational, and medical organizations, including Central High and the Philadelphia Orchestra (Mr. Spain serves as a trustee for both institutions).

Mr. Spain says, "My wife is a beautiful, smart, and stylish woman. But, above all else, she is humble, compassionate, and nice. These are qualities to celebrate, and I am happy to do so in a way that honors the love of my life while giving back to the community that has given so much to us."

For more information, please contact Development by phone at (215) 684-7750, by fax at (215) 236-0796, or by e-mail at .