The Phillips Collection Sets Fundraising Record, Raises $1 Million for Its Acclaimed Arts Education Programs

December 5, 2015

Funds generated by Friday night’s Annual Gala, Contemporaries Bash, and an online auction will support the museum’s ongoing engagement with K–12 teachers and students.

Washington, DC—Director Dorothy Kosinski announced today that The Phillips Collection’s 2015 Gala, held May 8 at the museum, set a fundraising record for the 94-year-old institution. More than 400 guests showed their support for the Phillips at the black-tie affair, and hundreds joined in the fun at the after party Bash, held at Dock 5 at Union Market. Combined, both celebrations helped to generate $1 million in support for the museum’s arts education programming.

“We thank all of our donors for their passionate and generous support of arts education at The Phillips Collection,” says Kosinski. “Their contributions benefit thousands of children, teachers, and families in the DC area and across the country. And such generosity allows us to push the boundaries of K–12 education and catalyze learning across educational curricula,” Kosinski adds.

In collaboration with Charitybuzz, the Phillips will continue to garner support via its online auction through May 13. Auction lots include a selection of specially-curated items such as exotic vacation packages and power lunches with local notables. “The Phillips’s online auction has something for everyone—gourmands, wine aficionados, fashionistas and world travelers will all find excitement,” says2015 Gala Chair the Honorable Ann Stock. “But the most thrilling part of the auction is knowing that themoney raised helps the Phillips produce arts education programs that inspire creativity and foster a greater understanding of our world,” Stock adds.

Bidding is available at Charitybuzz.com/PhillipsCollection through May 13. Winning bids are tax deductible if the price paid exceeds fair market value.

SUPPORTING EDUCATION

The Annual Gala raises critical resources for the museum’s award-winning education programs that inspire creativity, foster a greater understanding of our world, and provide lifelong learning experiences for more than 48,000 children, teachers, and families in the Washington, DC, community and across the country annually. The Phillips Collection pushes the boundaries of K–12 education with JacobLawrence’s Migration Series teaching kit and the development of the Prism of Arts Integration teaching framework, a program to support teachers of any subject as they develop arts-integrated lessons and curricula.

Programs provide teachers and students with high-quality, in-depth training, resources, classroom workshops, museum tours, transportation, and Young Artists Exhibitions designed to foster self-expression and empowerment. Arts are used as a “learning bridge,” linking to core curriculum subjectssuch as science, math, social studies, and language arts.

The Phillips Collection is expanding this award-winning program nationally with Prism.K12, a new education initiative that connects the 21st-century museum to K–12 education by focusing on the integration of the visual arts with core subject areas.