Fralin Museum Launches Patron Program for Art Acquisition Involvement

The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia has embarked on an innovative initiative allowing its patrons to actively participate in shaping its collection. The program, known as “Fralin Visionaries,” provides members with a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the art acquisition process.

This initiative recently culminated in a lively vote on June 5, where participants selected a new artwork for the museum. Each museum curator proposed a piece for potential purchase, and the members, spanning various UVA clubs across the nation via livestream, cast their votes. The winning piece was “Some Theories About Private Property” by UVA alumnus Rodney McMillian. Other contenders included Georges Adéagbo’s “No. 300, No. 297 and No. 295” and Christine Sun Kim’s “Mind Rock.”

“It’s a way to be in touch with The Fralin in a much deeper, more meaningful way,” said Terry de Guzman, a participant in the program. De Guzman, originally from the Philippines, moved to Charlottesville in 2007 and served as a senior associate dean at UVA’s Darden School of Business before taking on a role as chief operating officer at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. She explained that her experience there helped her cultivate a significant appreciation for the art community. In 2018, she returned to Charlottesville, bringing her insights to The Fralin’s initiative.

De Guzman noted that the Fralin Visionaries program makes museums more accessible, counteracting the perception of them as exclusive spaces. “It becomes this open-ended conversation, which goes past art and into society,” she remarked.

Hannah Foster, The Fralin’s associate director of annual giving, emphasized the museum’s efforts to include young alumni and local Charlottesville residents who may not have a direct connection to the university. “At large museums, the barrier to entry for a program like this is high,” she said. “We wanted to make sure we were not limiting access to our community.”

Mary Winston Richardson, a former docent and founder of the museum’s student engagement council, finds value in maintaining her connection to the arts through this program. An art history and media studies graduate from UVA, Richardson now resides in New York and notes the stark difference in impact between large New York museums and The Fralin. “Whereas with The Fralin, you can really get to know the exhibitions and the staff, and it’s just a much more approachable museum,” she commented.

The concept for Fralin Visionaries originated during a 2024 visit to an art fair. The museum director, Karen Milbourne, along with staff and members, encountered a piece by Alison Saar. “Our director, Karen, and our curator, Kristen (Nassif), saw it, and their eyes just got big,” Foster recalled.

Although the artwork wasn’t exorbitantly priced by art-world standards, the museum sought to enhance donor support and community involvement. By leveraging member contributions to fund acquisitions, the museum engages a wider audience in both its activities and the broader art acquisition process.