Miami— August 2, 2022 — In 1683, the world’s first public museum, the Ashmolean in Oxford, opened its doors. Since then, museums have become central to society. Museums play an integral role in not only preserving history, but providing a safe space for the healthy exploration of ideas that educate and inspire.  As an active participant in the artworld, Tresart understands the importance of preserving and supporting the institutions that work tirelessly to bring us together and help us nurture our appreciation of art.  

This month, we bring to you “Support Museums,” the first installment of our new #SupportArt series, a group of short texts dedicated to highlighting and supporting artmaking and the cultural organizations that connect art and society. We invite you to follow the #SupportArt series on Instagram and Facebook, and encourage you to support art organizations.  

Here’s how you can support your favorite museums and cultural institutions:

Visit

Many routinely enjoyed our  local museums before the pandemic, but have since gotten out of habit. It’s easy to forget all the cultural options you have in the area where you live, especially after the pandemic when everyone was encouraged to stay indoors for so long. Get back out there! Many museums are open at regular hours and ready to welcome you with new exhibitions and programming.  For example, aside from continuing to present contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections, after the pandemic, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, MOCA, brought back their long-running, popular (and free) Jazz at MOCA. The monthly event features an exciting lineup of South Florida musicians playing on the last Friday of every month at 8 P.M. and MOCA galleries are open by donation from 7-10 P.M.

Become a Member

Memberships are a wonderful way to get closer to the arts while supporting your favorite local organizations. Also a perfect gift idea for friends and family, memberships pay for themselves, especially when you consider the free admission and the various benefits that are usually included with membership. They can give you the opportunity to attend special events and programs, purchase items at discounted prices, and connect you with other like-minded individuals. 

Oftentimes, they even come with other benefits outside of the museum, usable at the museum’s partners. For example, The Bass Museum’s members at the $250 Affiliate level and above receive reciprocal membership benefits at over 800 museums in the North American Reciprocal program. 

Donate

Many museums are nonprofit organizations, meaning that charitable donations are a win-win for both you and the organization. Not only can your donation be a tax deduction for you, but it’s also a main source of funding for organizations that rely heavily on the support of their patrons to keep operations up and running. Donations don’t have to come in the form of cash either. Many cultural institutions accept gifts of stocks and mutual funds, as well as other securities. Contact your local museum to find how to make a  tax-deductible gift.

Volunteer

Due to the pandemic, many cultural organizations were forced to make cuts to their normal operations. One way to help your local museum or cultural organization is to give them your time. Volunteering is a great way to contribute to their success, serve communities, and expand your own skill set and experience within the arts scene.  It also lets you get a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoings of your favorite museums, while doing something good as well. Most museums welcome adults and youth, as well as larger groups.

Engage

Even if you can’t visit or volunteer right now, connect with your favorite museums virtually and on social media.  Without budgets for large advertising campaigns, oftentimes the majority of marketing dollars get spent on lower-cost platforms like social media and email. Help your favorite cultural organizations by signing up to their newsletter to stay in the loop or follow them on social media and ‘like’ their posts.

Shop and Dine

You can support your favorite institutions by shopping at their gift shops or dining at their restaurants and cafés. For example, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, PAMM, has a beautiful gift shop that goes beyond the usual T-shirts and mugs with logos.  PAMM Shop is a gold mine for one-of-a-kind gifts that you can’t find anywhere else. After you’re done stocking up on pick-me-ups or selecting the perfect present to brighten up a friend’s day, grab a bite at Verde. The waterfront restaurant and bar offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and a locally inspired menu. 

Visit, engage, shop, and donate to your local cultural organizations. To learn more about events and the many ways to support The Bass, PAMM or MOCA North Miami visit their websites.

TRESART is proud to support South Florida’s The Bass Museum of Art and Antonio De la Guardia is a member of the museum’s amBASSadors.

Photo: The Bass Museum of Art, featuring the site-specific installation “Eternity Now,” 2015 by Sylvie Fleury. Image courtesy of Artsy.