January 2025

What began as the Tucson Fine Arts Association in 1924, has evolved into one of the most renowned and respected arts organizations in the Southwestern United States: the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. Over the past 12 months we have celebrated our exceptional 100-year history and created strategies designed to sustain our museum for future generations to enjoy.

Most sincere thanks to the individuals, companies, foundations, and government granting entities for their generous financial support in 2024.  I am also extremely grateful for our community partners, volunteers, staff, and trustees who are essential to the continued success of our historic museum.

You have collectively contributed to the vitality, livability, and economic wellbeing of our community – according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report, our museum contributes over $4.2 million annually to Southern Arizona’s economy.

Just a few of our centennial year accomplishments are highlighted below.

• We received a Connie Hillman Family Foundation Challenge Match. This 3-year commitment has the potential of raising $1.5 million through increased and new gifts.
• La Casa Cordova was reopened to the public. This former adobe home, dating from the 1850s and on the National Register of Historic Places, includes the beloved El Nacimiento diorama, the largest and longest-running Nativity scene in the Southwest.
• The La Casa Cordova project was awarded a prestigious Historic Preservation Award from the Tucson / Pima County Historical Commission.
• Our Arizona Biennial 2024, juried by Natasha Becker, curator of African Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, received a record number of submissions – over 560 individual artists. 42 artworks representing multiple mediums and artists living / working across the state were juried into the show.
• “Paintings from Spanish America (1600-1800) from the Thoma Collection” featured a selection of exquisite oil paintings on canvas and copper. Dr. Jennifer Saracino, an assistant professor of Art History at the University of Arizona, selected this exhibition as a semester-long research project for her graduate students.
• “Community-Based Curation: A Toolkit for Expanding Narratives and Changing Practices” was introduced at the 2024 American Alliance of Museum’s annual conference. This forward-looking Toolkit, which defines community-based curation, outlines strategies for effectively engaging communities, and provides insights and reflections on our museum staff members’ experiences, has been downloaded just over 700 times over the past few months.
• We opened the “Creative Space,” an interactive, family-friendly area and a “Community Gallery,” both located in our John K. Goodman Pavilion.

We begin the new year with new direction informed by an updated strategic plan: “Looking Forward to a Second Century of Connecting Art to Life.” Five main priorities designed to build on our past success and sustain our institution for the future are the focus. We will strive to increase, diversify, and sustain our resources; strengthen our brand recognition; broaden our art and engagement efforts; highlight our historic campus; and ensure operational excellence. The ultimate goal being to make art accessible to individuals from all backgrounds and offer everyone the opportunity to freely express themselves, experience a multiplicity of voices, make new connections, and ultimately, openly consider others’ perspectives.

There is nothing I love more about my job than connecting with visitors in our galleries, art studios, and historic properties. Looking forward to more impromptu conversations in 2025 – without fail, they are invaluable!

Norah Diedrich
Jon and Linda Ender Director and CEO

 TMA’s mission is to connect art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity, and promote cultural connection.