The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) marked its 100th anniversary with a Grand Gala Ball that raised $5.5 million for the occasion. The Houston Chronicle reports that the event, chaired by life trustees, had already garnered $2.5 million in donations before attendees arrived.
With Nancy and Rich Kinder leading the way with a $1 million donation, the MFAH’s Centennial Gala quickly became a milestone fundraising event. The museum, elegantly decorated in Art Deco style to reflect its historic roots, welcomed 356 guests, including prominent Houston figures such as Lynn Wyatt, Whitney and Jim Crane, and the Kinders themselves, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. A key moment of the evening was the announcement of a $2 million Jan and J. Venn Leeds Grand Gala Ball Operating Endowment, established by J. Venn Leeds.
In addition to the lobster served to the guests in black tie, the gala featured a 4-minute historical video highlighting the museum's development from its founding to its current prominence. According to the Houston Chronicle, MFAH Director Gary Tinterow provided remarks on the institution's growth and evolution over the years, "In 1924, when the façade was inscribed 'by the people for the use of the people,' that has been our inspiration, but has not always been actualized."
Meanwhile, CultureMap Houston reported on the event’s elaborate décor, which drew inspiration from the Roaring '20s, and the dinner provided by City Kitchen. The David Caceres jazz trio performed throughout the evening, contributing to the atmosphere reminiscent of the flapper era. The setting reflected the significance of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which has played a key role in shaping the city's cultural landscape over the past century.
The centennial celebration wasn't only about looking back but also forward. With forthcoming exhibitions like "Gauguin in the World," MFAH continues to pillars the city's arts scene. Tinterow told the Houston Chronicle, "One thing I feel certain of, families in Houston have donated generational support to the success of this institution, which will be led and supported by the descendants of those who willed us into birth in 1924."
