Fort Worth, TX, March 18, 2013—The Amon Carter Museum of American Art announced today the completion of its $3.8 million Excellence in Education Campaign. Funds are supporting and expanding the museum’s nationally-recognized education programs. With 100 percent participation from the Board of Trustees and campaign advisory committee, this successful effort underscores the importance community leaders place on accessible art education.

“The Amon Carter’s art education programs play a very important role in this community, around the state and across the country,” says Trustee Mark L. Johnson. “At a time when children have few if any opportunities to interact with original works of art, our student tour programs led by professional educators provide them with free and meaningful access to the museum’s collection. Our outreach also extends to teachers, as well as families and adults, including those who don’t have the financial means to experience other arts opportunities.”

The Amon Carter’s Education Program’s impact can be traced back over the decades, but its scope has increased dramatically since the museum’s expansion in 2001. Programs have grown to include student tours, teacher programs, distance learning programs, adult public programs, and family programs. The number of schoolchildren, educators, families, and adults directly served by these programs has grown 825 percent since 2002, totaling 59,109 participants in 2012.

This campaign, quietly launched during the museum’s 50th anniversary year, allows the museum to meet the regional and national communities’ needs for free, quality arts education by enhancing existing programs and allowing for the development of new initiatives. For instance, the Summer Day Care Program began with campaign funds, and more than 1,500 children from area day care and community centers have visited the Amon Carter for themed tours that connect artworks in the collection to their everyday experiences. Because of increased national attention on early childhood education, Educational First Steps was introduced, targeting pre-K students through multiple visits to the museum. Another new program, Connect to American Art, sends museum docents to Tarrant County senior centers five times with three subsequent experiences at the museum.

“Our education programs communicate the inseparable relationship between American art and the social and cultural history of our country,” says Andrew Walker, museum director, “and they help people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds feel welcome in a museum setting and learn to observe, discuss, and think about art and its relationship to the world around them. Providing that education venue is a monumental responsibility, and one we are proud to own. The Education Campaign is giving the community the opportunity to be a part of that vision and leadership.”

Amon Carter Museum of American Art Board of Trustees

Karen Johnson Hixon, President
Mark L. Johnson, Vice President
Robert M. Bass
Bradford R. Breuer
Michael Conforti
Walker C. Friedman
John P. Hickey Jr.
Carter Johnson Martin
Richard W. Moncrief
Stephen P. Smiley
Benjamin F. Stapleton III
Nenetta Carter Tatum
William E. Tucker
Alice L. Walton
Kimbell F. Wynne

Excellence in Education Campaign Advisory Committee

Judy and Stephen Alton
Joyce and Bob Capper
Sue and John Allen Chalk
Lucy Darden
Mitzi and Bill Davis
Martha Kate Downey
Robert Fernandez
Shirlee and Taylor Gandy
Tera and Richard Garvey
John Gavin
Carol and Ronnie Goldman
Mollie and Garland Lasater
Brooke (Boo) Lively
Lou and Nick Martin
Beth and Ron Parrish
Mary and John Ripperton
Cynthia Hammett and Dick Russack
Michael Sorum
Amy and John Sutton
Randi and Mark Thistlethwaite