Prescott, AZ ... An anonymous donation of $100,000 was made to the Phippen Museum Art Acquisition Fund and is being directed toward acquiring more of George Phippen's original oil paintings, as well as paintings and sculptures from the Founding Fathers of the Cowboy Artists of America (CA).
The Board of Trustees Collections Committee has been working with Curator Deb Bentlage using a prioritized art acquisition strategy to identify new additions for the Permanent Collection through private collectors, galleries and auctions. New acquisitions are intended to help build an even greater presence for the Phippen art collection in the museum world. The committee and the curator are following an art acquisition strategy focusing primarily on adding oil paintings or museum quality bronze sculptures by George Phippen who was the first President of the CA and the museum's namesake. Last year, the Phippen Board of Trustees and the Collections Committee voted to adopt updated Collections Policies that outlines a process for bringing new artwork into the collection either by donation or sale. The museum curator is the first point of contact to bring significant work to the attention of the Collections Committee and subsequently the Phippen Board of Trustees for a final vote.
In following the accepted art acquisition strategy for this new museum donation, a secondary priority is being given to acquiring significant high quality work by the other three Founding Fathers of the Cowboy Artists of America: Charlie Dye CA, John Hampton CA and Joe Beeler CA. Currently in the museum collection, there are a number of smaller bronze pieces.
If you are interested in learning more about the acquisition fund and how you can make a contribution, please contact Kim Villalpando, Executive Director, or Deb Bentlage, Museum Curator/Collections Manager, at the Phippen Museum. The generosity of this local art patron's donation will allow the Phippen to eventually give Western Art lovers visiting upcoming exhibitions the joy of seeing more wonderful art of the American West on display!