Barnes Foundation

TO BE A LEADING FORUM FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE ARTS, IDEAS, AND HISTORIES REPRESENTED IN ITS CORE COLLECTIONS. THE BARNES MANIFESTS THIS COMMITMENT BY TEACHING VISUAL LITERACY THROUGH THE BARNES-DE-MAZIA METHOD; SUPPORTING ADVANCED SCHOLARSHIP ON ITS COLLECTIONS AND RELATED SUBJECTS; SHARING COMPELLING INTERPRETIVE STRATEGIES; AND OFFERING INCLUSIVE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ON-SITE, ONLINE, AND IN THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. CENTRAL TO THE BARNES FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF EVER-DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF ITS COLLECTIONS BY DIVERSE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES.

THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN AN ACTIVE PROGRAM OF COLLECTION CARE AND CONSERVATION. THE BARNES ART COLLECTION COMPRISES OVER 8,000 WORKS OF FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS, INCLUDING PAINTINGS, FRAMES, WORKS ON PAPER, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIVE METALWORK. THE FOUNDATION'S PHILADELPHIA FACILITY INCLUDES A STATE-OF-THE-ART PAINTING CONSERVATION LAB. FY23 FEATURED AN EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY SOUTH AFRICAN ARTISTS SUE WILLIAMSON & LEBOHANG KGANYE, TELL ME WHAT YOU REMEMBER. CURATED BY EMMA LEWIS OF TURNER CONTEMPORARY IN MARGATE, ENGLAND, THE EXHIBITION PAIRED THE WORKS OF ARTISTS, SUE WILLIAMSON, AN ACTIVIST AND ORGANIZER IN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT FOR PEACE, A MULTI-RACIAL ANTI-APARTHEID GROUP, WITH LEBOHANG KGANYE, A WOMAN BORN POST-APARTHEID NEAR THE TOWNSHIP OF SOWETO, ONCE HOME TO NELSON MANDELA AND ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU. THE EXHIBITION FEATURED BODIES OF WORK ACROSS PHOTOGRAPHY, SCULPTURE, VIDEO, AND INSTALLATION. THE EXHIBITION CLOSED IN MAY 2023.EXPENSES FOR COLLECTIONS CARE INCLUDES A PRO-RATA SHARE OF DEPRECIATION AND OTHER FACILITY COSTS.

THE FOUNDATION'S PERMANENT COLLECTION GALLERY IN PHILADELPHIA WELCOMED NEARLY 100,000 GUESTS IN THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 2023. THE FOUNDATION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FIVE DAYS PER WEEK (THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY). A RETAIL STORE SELLS REPRODUCTIONS, PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO THE ART COLLECTION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES ENTERTAINING PRIVILEGES TO ITS MEMBERS, HOSTING 37 SPECIAL EVENTS DURING FY23.THE BARNES PRESENTED A NUMBER OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMS IN FY23, INCLUDING FIRST FRIDAYS, PECO FREE FIRST SUNDAY FAMILY DAYS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' NIGHTS, AS WELL AS TODDLER PALOOZA - A SPECIAL FAMILY-ORIENTED EVENT FOR THE YOUNGEST ASPIRING ARTISTS.PROGRAM EXPENSES FOR VISITATION INCLUDES A PRO-RATA SHARE OF DEPRECIATION AND OTHER FACILITY COSTS FOR ALL LOCATIONS.

THE BARNES-DE MAZIA PROGRAM BUILDS ON DR. BARNES'S GROUNDBREAKING APPROACH TO TEACHING VISUAL LITERACY AND THE CURRICULUM HE DEVELOPED WITH VIOLETTE DE MAZIA AND JOHN DEWEY, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE FORMAL ANALYSIS OF ART AND REFLECTS PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION PHILOSOPHIES OF THE 1920S. THE BARNES-DE MAZIA ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE GREAT SUCCESS WITH ONLINE CLASSES IN 2022, ENABLING THE BARNES TO ENGAGE LARGE AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES, WITH CLASS SIZE NO LONGER LIMITED BY BUILDING CAPACITY OR GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE. DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023, 965 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 24 ONLINE CLASSES, WHILE 169 STUDENTS ATTENDED 17 IN-PERSON CLASSES. THE BARNES ALSO PROVIDED 130 NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS. PROGRAM EXPENSES FOR EDUCATION INCLUDES A PRO-RATE SHARE OF DEPRECIATION AND OTHER FACILITY COSTS.