Give to the Museum Fund and support the de Young and Legion of Honor as we continue to illuminate the past, speak of the present, and shape the future—your donation makes it all possible! We recognize that this year has affected everyone differently, but please know that your gift in any amount will make a tremendous impact.
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco collections are one of San Francisco’s most vital cultural legacies, and we are committed to sharing that legacy with you and generations to come. We’re here for you—virtually and in person, now and in the future.
This fall, The de Young Open filled the 12,000-square-foot Herbst Exhibition Galleries with 877 artworks by 762 Bay Area artists. The exhibition continues the museum’s long-standing tradition of engaging the local community and showcasing the talent of Bay Area artists, who may offer their pieces for sale and retain 100 percent of the proceeds
As schools are distance learning for the academic year, many parents and caregivers are in need of resources that help educate and enrich their children. Curiosity Resources for Families offers children opportunities to utilize their creativity and problem-solving skills in fun and experiential ways. Tailored, at-home versions of this longstanding and popular in-gallery activity are now available on our website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Creating and sharing engaging arts education is critical as funding for public arts education dwindles. This year we engaged 17,638 participants with our curiosity resources and de Youngster Studio Demo videos. This January we are providing 1,000 “art studios in a box” for local K–6 students without current access to art supplies to enjoy art making outside the museums.
By temporarily closing to slow the spread of COVID-19, we found a silver lining in virtual programming. Since May, thousands of homebound seniors and other visitors who would normally not be able to visit in person have enjoyed Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving from home with our Virtual Art Talks. In 2020, we united with local community partners and arts organizations to share virtual programming with more than 30,000 online viewers from around the world!
The Museums’ conservators continue to work hard to care for our 120,000-object collection and the de Young and Legion of Honor buildings. Through this series of social media posts, videos, and web articles, we will offer audiences a behind-the-scenes look at our conservation activities, especially focusing on the teamwork and creative solutions necessary to protect both the conservators and the pieces they’re working on.