Press Release

Tucson, AZ – Tucson Museum of Art invites the community to join in celebrating the opening of the Alice Chaiten Baker Center for Art Education. The celebration, which coincides with Second SundAZe Family Day, will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Activities include:

• 10:00-10:15 a.m.              UA Fred Fox Jazz Ensemble
• 10:15- 10:25 a.m.             Ribbon cutting ceremony & remarks
• 10:25-11:00 a.m.              UA Fred Fox Jazz Ensemble
• 11:00 a.m.                           Ballet Rincon Youth Ensemble
• 12:00 p.m.                          Storytime in the galleries
• 1:00 p.m.                             Jovert Steel Band from Tucson High School
• 2:00 p.m.                             Curator Talk: “Pre-Columbian Masterworks from the Baker and Kasser Collections”
• 10 a.m.—3 p.m.                Art-making activities: make masks, tissue paper landscapes, abstract sculpture and more
• 10 a.m.—5 p.m.                Explore the museum galleries
• Refreshments will be available in the East Plaza with a cash bar of non-alcoholic drinks.

After nearly three decades in its present location, TMA’s education center—built in 1943 as the City Court Building to house judges’ quarters and a courtroom—was completely renovated thanks to a gift from Alice and Paul Baker, long time museum benefactors. To honor this historic gift and to recognize Alice’s long-term commitment to TMA as a Trustee, the facility has been renamed the Alice Chaiten Baker Center for Art Education.

The renovations increase TMA’s capacity to provide rich experiences for visitors of all ages through TMALearn! and Community Engagement programs. The facility includes:

• Four fully-equipped classrooms, each with a capacity of 27-30.
• The Stonewall Foundation Community Room, a configurable space that accommodates up to 180 people for lectures, presentations, meetings, conferences and more.
• The Kimball Conference Room that seats up to 40.
• The James H. & Frances R. Allen Library, a reference library available to those studying art.
• The Bob and Marilyn Joyce Conference Room
• The Michael S. Bylsma Executive Suite
• The Anne E. and Jeffrey W. Gartner Lobby
• The Mikolajczak/Tello Family Restroom

Second SundAZe Family Day is presented by the Stonewall Foundation with additional support from the David and Lura Lovell Foundation.

About Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block’s mission is “connecting art to life.” The museum was founded in 1924 and is located in the El Presidio Historic District of downtown Tucson. It is Southern Arizona’s premier presenter of fine art and art education programs.

The museum features permanent and traveling exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary, Native American, American West, Latin American, pre-Columbian, European and Asian art. The 74,000-square-foot museum offers guided tours and education programs. The museum’s historic block of 19^th and 20^th-century adobe and Mission Revival-style buildings, encompassing a four-acre city block, includes the highly acclaimed museum restaurant Café a la C’Art, the Museum Store and additional exhibition spaces.

TMA is a private 501(c)(3) charitable arts and education organization. For additional information visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call (520) 624-2333.

The 2019/20 Season at Tucson Museum of Art is generously sponsored by Joyce Broan, Connie Hillman Family Foundation, Jon and Linda Ender, James J. and Louise R. Glasser, and AC Hotel Tucson.

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