After being unable to do so last year, the philanthropic ladies of the Circle recently met face-to-face at their annual Closing Reception to determine which of the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s educational and outreach programs they would fund in the upcoming season.
When the pandemic forced the museum to temporarily close last spring, the ladies switched to email voting, so this was the first time they were able to gather en masse.
Becky Torbin, steering committee chair, asked members to raise a glass and toast fellow members, saying they had “adapted to the new normal and stayed loyal, supportive and committed to our mission.”
She noted that the museum’s education and outreach programs touch lives from the smallest toddlers to school-aged children as well as seniors, veterans and individuals with special needs.
“It’s heartwarming and rewarding to be part of this effort,” said Torbin.
“We’ve been very fortunate that the museum has had so much support from the community over the past year and in particular the 100 members of the Circle,” said Brady Roberts, VBMA CEO. “You’ve done so much to keep our educational programs and our outreach going. What you’re doing is critical to our mission, so thank you for doing it,” said Roberts.
“Last year we fully funded Museum Explorations and partially funded Program for Veterans, A+ ART, and the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Association Partnership. This year we have $29,200 that we can distribute to support these programs,” said Torbin.
Before giving an overview of the programs under consideration, Robyn Orzel, director of development/assistant executive director, thanked the committee.
“I admire your dedication to ensuring that art education remains accessible for all, especially at this time when people need it the most. As has been expressed, this past year has been a challenge on every front, but the museum found a way to continue to serve those in our community who needed it,” said Orzel. “That we have 104 members during a pandemic is remarkable.”
Circle members contribute $250 or more annually and a committee of volunteers reviews and narrows the choices for the final vote, helping to ensure that art programs are available to everyone, regardless of economic limitations. The programs under consideration are classified as School Programs, Community Engagement Partnerships, Student Programs and Family Programs.
This year’s finalist programs were:
Museum Explorations: Launched in 2018, it is offered to Pre-K through 12th-grade classes with a goal “to enhance visual literacy, critical thinking and socio-emotional learning through art museum experiences.”
Museum Studios and Family Festivals: Studios, launched in 1998, offers free monthly programs to families with docent-led tours and hands-on activities. Festivals began in 1981 with the first Children’s Art Festival, and also includes Holidays at the Museum. The goal is to “engage patrons with meaningful learning experiences through age-specific, child-friendly techniques in viewing, analyzing, making and doing.”
Veterans Program: Launched in 2020, with a goal to “create a safe, creative and community-sharing environment where veterans can explore object-based, art-making experiences,” the museum wishes to expand its three five-week classes to include two 10-week classes and one five-week class.
Alzheimer and Parkinson’s Association Community Impact Partnership: Launched in 2016, the goal is to “create inclusive art-making and movement experiences in a non-judgmental and physio-emotionally beneficial way.” They want to expand the Music and Movement in the Moment and the Artful Engagement classes to include weekly occurrences at the Indian River Shores and Vero Beach locations.
With the votes counted, it was announced that the Alzheimer and Parkinson’s program would be fully funded. As the cost of that one was a little less than half the $29,200 raised this year, the remainder will go toward the Museum Exploration program. The Museum will seek additional underwriting to complete the funding of that program and those not chosen this time.
Since the Circle’s inception 12 years ago, and including the monies donated this year, Orzel said that the group has contributed $388,617 to support VBMA arts education and outreach programs.
For more information, visit vbmuseum.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
