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Membership Levels & Benefits | African Art Contemporaries | Sponsorship & Naming Opportunities | Tax Deductibility

Become a Member

Discover the creative ingenuity of the diverse peoples of Africa. As the cradle of humanity, Africa is part of everyone's heritage . . . part of your heritage. The National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) is the nation's only museum solely dedicated to the collection, research, exhibition and preservation of traditional and contemporary African art. Through its unparalleled collections, NMAfA promotes deeper understanding of Africa's rich artistic heritage and cultures.

The National Museum of African Art relies on individuals like you to ensure our growth and success. In an economy of shrinking federal assistance, your support provides the vital resources necessary to sustain and develop our exhibitions and programs. Join us today and make a lasting contribution to the future of the National Museum of African Art.

You may use our secure server to join online or complete the downloadable form and mail it to the address on the form. If you join online, you will receive an email confirmation from us.

Membership Levels & Benefits

Donor
$50

  • Subscription to Folio, the museum's triannual membership newsletter
  • Quarterly Calendar of Events
  • Advance e-mail notices of upcoming exhibitions
  • 10% discount at the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) and Smithsonian Institution museum stores (discount not applicable at the National Gallery of Art and the National Zoo)
  • 10% discount on all purchases from SmithsonianStore.com, Smithsonian Catalogue and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian IMAX theaters
  • Recognition as a member of the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) on the museum's electronic member and donor scrolls.
  • Membership card

Supporter
$150
All the benefits of Donor, plus ...

  • Invitation for two to an exclusive exhibition opening
  • Complimentary NMAfA poster

Associate
$250
All the benefits of Supporter, plus ...

  • Complimentary copy of a museum publication (selected by NMAfA staff)
  • Complimentary NMAfA tote bag

Patron
$500
All the benefits of Associate, plus ...

  • Complimentary copy of Selected Works from the Collection of the National Museum of African Art
  • Invitation to tour NMAfA exhibition with a curator

Benefactor
$1,000
All the benefits of Patron, plus ...

  • Complimentary copy of the Treasures exhibition portfolio
  • Framed image from the museum's Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives
  • Invitation to an exclusive dinner

Contributor's Circle
$5,000
All the benefits of Benefactor, plus . . .

  • Annual breakfast with the Director
  • Invitation to all NMAFA dinners or receptions
  • Access to museum curators or conservators about artworks in your collection
  • An NMAfA membership at the Donor level to give as a gift
  • Invitation to behind-the-scenes tour of the museum led by a curator
  • Signed, complimentary copy of Treasures 2008 exhibition publication

Sponsor's Circle
$10,000+
All the benefits of Contributor's Circle, plus . . .

  • Opportunity to host a small event at the museum
  • Tour of a private collection led by the collector



African Art Contemporaries
$500
African Art Contemporaries is for anyone interested in traditional and contemporary African art and culture. Programs and activities are designed to educate, offer insights into and promote the arts of Africa.

You may use our secure server to join online or complete the downloadable form and mail it to the address on the form. If you join online, you will receive an email confirmation from us.

Benefits

  • Recognition as a member of the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) on the museums electronic member and donor scrolls
  • Subscription to Folio, the museum's membership newsletter, and the Calendar of Events
  • E-blasts, of upcoming exhibition openings and Contemporaries events
  • 10% discount at NMAfA and Smithsonian Institution museum stores (discount not applicable at the National Gallery of Art and the National Zoo)
  • 10% discount on all purchases from SmithsonianStore.com, Smithsonian Catalogue and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian IMAX theaters
  • Invitations to behind-the-scenes tours and lectures designed especially for the Contemporaries
  • Invitations for two museum events per year
  • Discounts to ticketed Contemporaries events
  • Discounts to selected art publications
  • Visits to galleries in Washington, D.C., New York and other art destinations

For more information, please call Member Services at 202.633.4648 or email africanmember@si.edu.


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Sponsorship and Naming Opportunities

Naming Opportunities

Museum Facilities
Duration of naming opportunity will not exceed 30 years

African Art pavilion: $7 million
Large exhibition hall: $4 million
Medium exhibition gallery: $2 million
Small exhibition gallery: $1 million
Conservation laboratory: $1 million

Art Acquisitions

Special art acquisition fund: $1—$25 million
Each time a privately funded collection is publicly displayed or published, the donor will be appropriately acknowledged.

Individual Art Purchase: $50,000—$5 million
Individual donor's name will be acknowledged each time the artwork purchased is displayed or published.

Sponsorship Programs and Projects

Exhibitions

Long-term exhibition: $100,000—$2 million
Short-term exhibition: $75,000—$500,000
Incoming exhibition: $75,000—$500,000
Traveling exhibition: $100,000—$1 million

Endowed positions (10-year term)

Named director: $3—$4 million
Named senior curator: $1.5—$2 million
Named educator: $1—$2 million

Educational programs

Multiyear, national initiative: $100,000—
$2 million
Short-term, local initiative: $25,000—$75,000

Publications

Book: $50,000—$500,000
Exhibition catalogue: $25,000—$100,000
Exhibition guide: $10,000

Events

Annual gala: $10,000—$250,000
Public programs $10,000—$100,000

To learn more about sponsorship and naming opportunities, please call 202.633.4648 or email Henria@si.edu.

Tax deductibility
Your acknowledgement letter will clarify the amount of your contribution's tax deductibility. This amount is determined in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations. The tax deduction is the difference between your dues contribution and the fair market value of the goods and services you have chosen as benefits of your membership. For more details about your tax deductibility, please call 202.633.4648.

Palace Door
Artist: Olowe of Ise (c. 1875-c.1938)
Yoruba peoples, Ise, Ekiti region, Nigeria
c. 1904-10
Wood, pigment
88-13-1, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kuhn

 

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