In honor of National Philanthropy Day, November 15, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our donors and volunteers for a wonderful year at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

2012 has been an exciting year for us. Our overall attendance increased by 24% and we offered a number of exciting and diverse exhibitions. Visitors experienced Indian sculpture, French lithographs, European jewelry, Danish ceramics, Alabama quilts, and two American masters – Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell. We opened our first interactive family gallery, Bart’s ArtVenture, and our family attendance exploded! In addition, we organized the exhibition The Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection and now it is traveling throughout the country. Currently, it is showing at the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, then it will visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware.

While we are known for the quality of our collection as well as our exhibitions, perhaps the most special thing about the BMA is that general admission remains free for everyone – a luxury very few communities in the United States enjoy. It is because of the generosity of our city and community, from foundations and corporate partners to members, donors, and volunteers, that we have been able to remain free of charge since we opened our doors in 1951.

On National Philanthropy Day, and every day, we celebrate, and thank you!