The Museum Artists Foundation's mission was a fundraising and advocacy arm for the art community.
The Museum Artists Foundation (MAF) existed from 2004 - 2009. It left its fiscal agent, so no longer has a 501c3 status. The San Diego Visual Artists Guild (a licensed for-profit business) now acts in its place and continues the work of the MAF, most recently in assisting the Pink Party 2010 and the Synergy Art Foundation, promoting programs of the Oceanside Museum of Art, Art San Diego Contemporary art Fair, and the Sculpture in the Garden program of the San Diego Botanic Garden.
The following were recent achievements of the Museum Artists Foundation.
- Sponsored an exhibition in the Parker Gallery of the Oceanside Museum of Art called Commesso: Made in America "Gemstone Fine Art." The show ran from March 2 - May 1, 2009. This was the first art museum exhibition of commesso di pietre dure e tenere created by American artists. A lecture called "Meet the Artists" was held to a standing room only audience on April 25, 2009 at 2:00. For details of this art form see American Masters of Stone.
- We presented an elegant fundraiser Façade 2005 in conjunction with the Small Opera of San Diego, on May 21, 2005.
- Helped create a multi-phased Wildlife Art Exhibition & Sale, open to all regional artists, in the San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park, with the net proceeds split between the Museum and the Foundation, dates August 12, 2005 - January 1, 2006. Opening reception was October 1, 2005.
- Published "Alice Klauber" by Martin E. Petersen online, September 2, 2007.
- Joined together with members of the Carlsbad Village Business Association to create the Outdoor Art Foundation, assisting in all aspects of the process.
- Co-sponsored with the CVBA the Carlsbad Masquerade fundraiser for the OAF on February 25, 2006.
- Assisted the Outdoor Art Foundation in creating another Carlsbad Masquerade on February 24, 2007.
- Worked with the San Diego Visual Arts Network to create the Movers & Shakers exhibitions 2008 and 2010.
- Created The Unveiling in association with DOCS (Doctors Offering Charitable Services), on May 19, 2007.
- Created a comprehensive database of 2,900 regional visual artists including over 2,000 email addresses. This database has been shared with several organizations looking for artists to donate work or enter exhibitions. It is growing, kept current, and is made available on request by museums and qualified art organizations.
- Donated funds to the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego for their R.A.R.E. environmental/art project.
- Assists the Synergy Art Foundation with their projects and fundraising events.
- Aided in the creation/building of a cooperative artist gallery in downtown San Diego (1098 9th Ave.) called the San Diego Visual Artists Guild Fine Art Gallery and the host of the gallery, the Academy of Sound & Music (899 C St.).
- Became a "Cerulean" level member of the San Diego Visual Arts Network. This helped to showcase the San Diego Visual Artists Guild and publicize projects of the MAF.
- Donated funds to become a "Circle" member of both the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego.
- Provided assistance to COFAC (Consejo Fronterizo de Arte y Cultural - Border Council for Arts & Culture) to help with its programs.
- Donated funds to the New Village Arts Theater to assist them in obtaining a matching grant.
- Assisted the Pink Party with their 2009 annual fundraising event.
The following were some of the goals of the Museum Artists Foundation.
- Based on the overwhelming success of Commesso: Made in America "Gemstone Fine Art.", creating a larger comprehensive nationwide touring art museum show to assist museums in their education, public relations, and development activities.
- Becoming a "Circle" member of local art museums and assisting in underwriting art programs and exhibitions.
- Obtaining a building, in the San Diego area, to be used as a gathering place for artists and affiliated organizations.
- Creating an endowment fund.
- Raising funds for fine art related publications. Projects under consideration include printing a Catalog of Regional Artists, "American Masters of Stone", and "The Living History of the Guild".
- Raising money through a strict policy of sharing with other organizations by means of joint fundraising activities.
For more information, contact:
Dennis Paul Batt, former executive director MAF: dennispaul55@gmail.com