The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is better-framed for the future this week, as the 16-year-old modern art organization was named as the beneficiary of a $200,000 “matching gift” from a local family.
Longtime supporters, the McQuown family, have pledged to honor the matching gift over the course of two years, as the museum obtains the matching funds. If the museum can find donors to match the full amount, it would be a significant windfall for an organization with a $720,000 annual budget.
Three donations totaling $50,000 toward the match have already been secured, say museum officials, thanks to board president Simon Blattner and his wife Kimberly, museum cofounder Jim Lamb, and an anonymous donor.
Blattner says the gift is “game changing” for the nonprofit museum.
“(It) comes at a critical time for the museum,” said Blattner. “We are moving into the next phase of developing Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s identity as a world-class museum and a great asset to Sonoma.”
According to museum Executive Director Kate Eilertsen, the funds from this particular donation drive will go toward increasing attendance and membership-the museum has already hired a marketing consultant to boost outreach. Also on the docket is the possibility of adding a prominent retail and online store to the museum.
Annual museum attendance is at about 20,000, and Eilertsen would like to see much more. “There’s great art and culture outside of the city,” said Eilertsen. “And people need to know about it.”
The McQuowns’ matching gift, she says, will enable the museum “to build on the momentum of (its) success in the last few years.”
The museum, located at 551 Broadway, opened in 1998 and presents major exhibitions, educational workshops, art classes and student programs. For more information, visit svma.org.
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