John-Peter Wilhite Honored with TMA’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

Tucson, Arizona – Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) is proud to announce and congratulate John-Peter Wilhite with the museum’s 2024 TMA Lifetime Achievement Award. Launched in 2017, the TMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes outstanding individuals who have devoted their careers to the advancement of the arts in southern Arizona. The reception will be held on Wednesday, April 10th to honor this year’s recipient.

Previous recipients include Alice and Paul Baker and Beth and I. Michael Kasse (2023), Joyce Broan (2022), Drs. Mark and Kathleen Sublette (2021), James and Louise Glasser (2020), Andy Anderson (2019), Thomas Philabaum (2018), and Jim Waid (2017). Each year nominations for the award are reviewed and the recipient is selected by a panel that includes members of TMA’s Leadership Circle—the museum’s foremost philanthropic membership group.

After a 40-year career working in the nonprofit sector, John-Peter joined the staff of Housing & Residential Life at the University of Arizona in the spring of 2023, where he is the Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA). Prior to joining the University of Arizona, John-Peter was with Social Venture Partners Tucson (SVP Tucson). He wore several hats and was the Director of Donor Engagement. In this role, he worked closely with donors to ensure their support positively impacted the growth and development of SVP.

John-Peter’s commitment to the Tucson arts community runs deep. He served as a TMA board of trustee, chaired the museum’s community initiatives committee and was a key stakeholder in the development of TMA’s 2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan and IDEA Plan.

John-Peter earned an MA in Communication Studies from Texas State University and a BFA in Fashion and Art from Pratt Institute in New York City. John-Peter calls Tucson home, having lived here for 22 years. He gained his work and life experience while living in Indianapolis, New York City, San Francisco (twice), and Austin before to moving to Tucson.

About TMA Leadership Circle
The Leadership Circle, the museum’s foremost philanthropic membership group makes an incredible difference to supporting and sustaining Tucson Museum of Art’s permanent collection, exhibitions, and programs.

About TMA Lifetime Achievement Award
The TMA Lifetime Achievement Award, first presented in 2017, celebrates the career of an artist, patron, or community member, who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated a particular commitment to the advancement of the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block and Southern Arizona Arts community. The TMA Lifetime Achievement Awardees exemplify a long and impactful career in artistic excellence, exemplary philanthropic leadership, dedication to arts education, and support for and promotion of TMA.

Museum Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

About the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
As an institution built upon the original territories of the O’odham, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) acknowledges the Indigenous Sonoran Desert communities, past and present, who have stewarded this region throughout generations.

TMA connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity, and promote cultural understanding. Founded in 1924, TMA encompasses an entire city block in historic downtown Tucson and is committed to developing quality exhibitions, expanding, and diversifying its collection, providing arts education opportunities, and presenting relevant and innovative programs while broadening public access to the arts.

The museum features exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary art, Latin American art from ancient to today, Indigenous arts and Art of the American West. A permanent collection of over 10,000 works of art spans continents, centuries, and media. TMA’s campus includes five properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an art education center and research library, the Museum Store, and the highly acclaimed museum restaurant Café a la C’Art. TMA is a private 501(c)(3) charitable arts and education organization. For additional information visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call (520) 624-2333.

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. 140 N Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701

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