The Vero Beach Museum of Art welcomed its top donors back at the invitational Director’s Society and Chairman’s Club Dinner last Friday evening, sponsored by Indian River Estates.

Guests mingled over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before Brady Roberts, executive director/CEO, spoke on the ‘State of the Arts: Major Global Trends in the Museum Field,’ highlighting the global art market and trends in museum architecture before bringing the discussion back to a local level.

Roberts cited a recent survey that asked why people go to art museums. Among the top eight reasons: it can reduce stress, transport you to another place and give life a deeper meaning.

“It’s not just about the building; it’s about what you put in the building,” he said, referencing the upcoming exhibition “Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement,” which opens Feb. 9.

“This is one of the most ambitious exhibitions we’ve ever done at the museum. Victorian Radicals is a show of about 150 works from England featuring a rebellion against technology. It’s an interesting topic for us to contemplate in the 21st century,” said Roberts. He noted that their Victorian-themed humanities programs will further enrich the context of the exhibit.

Before adjourning to the Holmes Great Hall for dinner, catered by Elizabeth Kennedy & Co., Roberts concluded: “It’s an exciting year for us as we launch into this new level of programming; of linking our exhibitions with our humanities programs, and I want to thank you again for making it all possible.”

For more information, visit vbmuseum.org.