Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Press Room : Press Releases : 1999

May 13th, 1999

Museum Friends Celebrate 35 Years of Artful Giving

From 1964 to 1999, the Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art have dedicated themselves to raising funds for the acquisition of important works of art through an ambitious program of cultural, educational and social activities -- and have been admirably successful in doing so! More than 200 works of art have joined the Museum's permanent collections through the enthusiasm and generosity of the Friends, whose efforts have contributed more than two million dollars to the Museum's acquisition funds. To mark this remarkable legacy, the Friends will host a 35th Anniversary Celebration and Acquisition Party on Saturday evening, May 22. This formal and fun event will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing at 8:00 -- all in the dramatic surroundings of the Museum's Great Stair Hall.

A highlight of the evening is the opportunity to view and vote for the acquisition of works selected by the Museum's curators. On the "wish" list: works of contemporary art of the 1990s with which to welcome the new millennium. Tickets for the Friends' 35th Anniversary Celebration and Acquisition Party start at $75 per person for Young Friends (ages 35 and under), and $200 per person for Friends. All proceeds benefit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For information and reservations, call the Friends at (215) 684-7822.

The Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art 35th Anniversary Celebration and Acquisition Party will be hosted by the event's co-chairs, Anja and Marvin Levitties, and the 35th Anniversary Party Committee: John A. Affleck, Barbara B. Aronson, Luther W. Brady, M.D., Tish Byrne, James D. Crawford, Barbara Eberlein, Jeff Estabrook, Wendy T. Foulke, Bonnie Galter, Carol F. Gerst, Rachel Bok Goldman, William Higgins, Dinah J. Huntoon, Paul M. Ingersoll, Terry Jacobs, Andrew Kaplan, Delia Khosrowshahi, James Nelson Kise, Charles E. Mather III and Mary MacGregor Mather, Theodore T. Newbold, Catharine Norris, Perry Ottenberg, M.D., Robert Montgomery Scott, Marban Sparkman, Burton K. Stein, G. Linton Weber, Jr., Lisa Witomski, and Acey Wolgin.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest museums in the United States, with a collection of more than 227,000 works of art and more than 200 galleries presenting painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, decorative arts, textiles, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Its facilities include its landmark Main Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Perelman Building, located nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Rodin Museum on the 2200 block of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and two 18th-century houses in Fairmount Park, Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove. The Museum offers a wide variety of activities for public audiences, including special exhibitions, programs for children and families, lectures, concerts and films.

For additional information, contact the Marketing and Communications Department of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215) 684-7860. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street. For general information, call (215) 763-8100, or visit the Museum's website at www.philamuseum.org.