Think of your last visit to LACMA. What artwork made the biggest impact on you? An old favorite, or a new discovery? And whether that work was familiar or new to you, what more did you want to learn about it? Hundreds of art lovers have benefited from joining LACMA’s Art Councils, which offer more in-depth engagement with specific areas of art through events both on and off-campus, including exhibition walkthroughs, curator conversations, artist studio visits, and behind-the-scenes experiences. Organized exclusively for Art Council members and led by LACMA curators, these unique events allow council members to more fully immerse themselves in their preferred genre of art and build camaraderie with like-minded art enthusiasts, while directly supporting one or more of the museum’s curatorial departments.  

This past fall, for example, the Decorative Arts and Design Council visited the Haas Brothers’ multidisciplinary studio to learn more about the Brothers’ inspiration for their whimsical and playful designs and the intricate process that goes into each work they produce. Designer Nina Garduno provided a rare tour of her FREECITY store and workshop to members of the Costume Council. Associate curator of prints and drawings Naoko Takahatake and master printer Jacob Samuel guided an intimate tour of the exhibition Picasso and His Printers for members of the Prints and Drawings Council. And the Southern Asian Art Council enjoyed an enchanting evening of music in the South and Southeast Asian Art galleries, featuring Steve Oda on sitar and Abhiman Haushal on tabla. 

While personally enriching for members, LACMA’s Art Councils are also an important source of philanthropic support for the art acquisitions and special projects of the museum’s curatorial departments, aiding the growth of LACMA’s collections and cultural programming. 

Members at the Friend level or above are eligible to be a part of LACMA’s Art Councils (annual dues: $1,000). If you’re interested, fill out this form and we’ll contact you! You can also visit the Art Councils page for more information on all councils and how to join.