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FRIENDS OF WESTERN ART INC
Tucson, AZ · EIN 942801557 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · friendsofwesternart.org
revenue
$103K
expenses
$87K
net assets
$170K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

FWA promotes awareness of the art of the American West by providing sponsorship and support to western artists, artisans, educational programs, and art-related organizations in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Over the past 19 years, FWA has raised and donated over $675,000 to support this mission. Major categories of funding include: $290,000 for Teacher and School Art Supply Grants and Scholarships; $158,000 Amerind Museum (a 501(c)(3) organization); $77,000 Tucson Museum of Art (a 501(c)(3) organization): $60,000 Patronato San Xavier (a 501(c)(3) organization); and $23,000 Public Art Grants and Commissions.

profile · synthesized from sources

FRIENDS OF WESTERN ART INC is a Tucson-based nonprofit that supports and promotes artists working in the Western American art tradition. The organization evolved from the Tucson Festival Society's Artist of the Year Award, which it assumed in 1997, and now hosts public events, artist spotlights, and educational webinars. It highlights regional artists through exhibitions, live auctions, and digital programming focused on preserving Western art and culture.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Artist Spotlight
Annual event highlighting contemporary Western artists, evolved from the Artist of the Year Award; includes public features, live auctions, and artist recognition
Artist of the Year Lithograph Program
Legacy program honoring distinguished artists with special lithograph editions, continuing a tradition from 1974
FWA in the Studio
Interview and webinar series documenting member artists' stories, techniques, and journeys; used for educational purposes in classrooms
First Tuesday
Monthly lecture and presentation series featuring Western artists, artisans, and cultural figures; covers topics from painting and sculpture to Hopi quilts and turquoise art
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Art-Focused Fundraising & Collection Support 6 activities
    • Curating and Sponsoring Art Exhibitions
      Curates and sponsors exhibitions, such as 10 exhibitions in Amerind's Friends of Western Art Gallery, and creates virtual tour videos for joint exhibits.
    • Financial Support for Western Art Institutions and Conservation
      Donates funds to support its mission, including significant contributions to the Amerind Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, and Patronato San Xavier. The organization also provides funding for art conservation, preservation, restoration, and public art grants and commissions.
    • Funding Western Art Initiatives and Institutions
      The organization raises and donates funds to support its mission, including significant donations to the Amerind Museum (where they also curate and sponsor exhibitions), the Tucson Museum of Art, and Patronato San Xavier. They also provide funding for art conservation, preservation, restoration, and public art grants and commissions.
    • Funding Western Art Institutions and Conservation
      Donates funds to support institutions like the Amerind Museum and the Tucson Museum of Art, and provides funding for art conservation, preservation, restoration, and public art grants and commissions.
    • Funding Western Art Institutions and Conservation
      Donates funds to support institutions like the Amerind Museum and the Tucson Museum of Art, and provides funding for art conservation, preservation, and restoration. The organization also supports public art grants and commissions.
    • Funding Western Art Institutions and Conservation
      Donates funds to support institutions like the Amerind Museum and the Tucson Museum of Art, and provides funding for art conservation, preservation, and restoration. The organization also supports public art grants and commissions.
  • Art Education and Youth Recognition Events 6 activities
    • Promoting Western Art Education and Appreciation
      The organization sponsors artists and events to educate the public about Western Art, including hosting lectures, artist events, and maintaining a YouTube channel with previously filmed lectures and artist interviews. They also support a Teacher Art Supply Grant program to introduce students to Western Art and capture oral histories of artists for educational use.
    • Supporting Western Art Education for Youth
      Co-sponsors the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony, recognizing young artists and providing them with art supplies and an anthology. The organization also supports a Teacher Art Supply Grant program to introduce students to Western Art and provides scholarships to art students.
    • Supporting Western Art Education for Youth
      Co-sponsors the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony, recognizing young artists and providing them with art supplies and an anthology of their work. The organization also supports a Teacher Art Supply Grant program to introduce students to Western Art and provides scholarships to art students.
    • Supporting Western Art Education for Youth
      Co-sponsors the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony, recognizing young artists and providing them with art supplies and anthologies. The organization also supports a Teacher Art Supply Grant program to introduce students to Western Art and provides scholarships to art students.
    • Supporting Western Art Education for Youth
      Co-sponsors the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony, recognizing young artists and providing them with art supplies and an anthology. The organization also supports a Teacher Art Supply Grant program to introduce students to Western Art and provides scholarships to art students.
    • Supporting Young Artists
      The organization co-sponsors the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony, recognizing finalists with awards, gift cards for art supplies, and an anthology of their work. They also provide scholarships to students for their artistic endeavors.
  • Member-Focused Social Events 1 activity
    • Organizing Fundraising Events
      Organizes an annual BBQ event and hosts art auctions to raise proceeds that support its educational programs and mission.
  • Uncategorized 12 activities
    • Curating and Sponsoring Art Exhibitions
      Curates and sponsors exhibitions, such as 10 exhibitions in Amerind's Friends of Western Art Gallery, and creates virtual tour videos for joint exhibits.
    • Hosting Educational Lectures and Webinars on Western Art
      Organizes and hosts "First Tuesday Lecture" events and creates "First Tuesday" and "FWA in the Studio" webinar series and videos, making them available on their YouTube channel and expanding their library of presentations.
    • Hosting Events and Lectures on Western Art
      Organizes an annual BBQ event, hosts art auctions, and provides a "First Tuesday Lecture" series and "FWA in the Studio" webinar series to enrich and inform members and the general public about Western Art. These lectures are also made available on their YouTube channel.
    • Hosting Fundraising and Art-Related Events
      The organization organizes an annual BBQ event, with proceeds supporting educational programs. They also host art auctions and other events to promote and preserve Western Art.
    • Maintaining an Online Resource Library
      Maintains a YouTube channel featuring previously-filmed lectures and expands its library to include "First Tuesday" presentations, providing educational content on Western Art.
    • Organizing Events and Exhibitions
      Organizes an annual BBQ event, hosts art auctions, and curates and sponsors exhibitions in galleries like the Amerind Museum's Friends of Western Art Gallery. The organization also creates virtual tour videos for exhibits.
    • Organizing Fundraising and Art-Related Events
      Organizes an annual BBQ event, with proceeds supporting educational programs, and hosts live art auctions and other events to promote and preserve Western Art.
    • Promoting Western Artists and Their Work
      Annually honors artists with the Artist of the Year Award, hosts artist events and lectures, and documents artists' stories and showcases their work through "FWA in the Studio" interviews and oral histories. The organization also creates webinars and videos featuring artists and their work.
    • Promoting Western Artists and Their Work
      Annually honors artists with the Artist of the Year Award, hosts artist events, and documents stories of FWA artists through "FWA in the Studio" interviews and oral histories to showcase their work and provide insight into their journeys.
    • Promoting Western Artists and Their Work
      Annually honors artists with the Artist of the Year Award, hosts artist events and lectures, and documents artists' stories and showcases their work through "FWA in the Studio" interviews and oral histories. The organization also creates webinars and videos featuring artists and their work.
    • Promoting Western Artists and Their Work
      Annually honors artists with the Artist of the Year Award, hosts artist events and lectures, and documents artists' stories and showcases their work through "FWA in the Studio" interviews and oral histories. The organization also creates webinars and videos featuring artists.
    • Recognizing Artists
      The organization annually honors artists and their fine work through the Artist of the Year Award, a tradition since 1997.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$103K
Contributions & grants$58K56%
Program service revenue$35K34%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$87K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$18K
balance sheet
Total assets$170K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$170K
2 years on record · 2021–2022 · YoY revenue +69.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 6
  • Betsy Greene — Director
  • Jane Fletcher — Director
  • Laura Brown — Director
  • Lloyd Sharp — Director
  • Patty Carnovale — Director
  • Rebecca Rebenstorf — Director
relationships · 19

who they work with

  • Amerind Partner — Partnered for a joint exhibit in 2021.
  • Amerind Museum Partner — Partners to curate and sponsor exhibitions in Amerind’s Friends of Western Art Gallery, and assisted with the Fulton-Hayden Memorial Art Gallery revitalization project.
  • Amerind Museum Partner — Received funding from Friends of Western Art.
  • Amy Merkel Partner — Administrator responsible for providing login credentials to members.
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Partner — Listed as a related link.
  • Cowboy Artists of America Partner — Listed as a related link.
  • Empire Ranch Foundation Partner — Listed as a related link.
  • Mountain Oyster Club Partner — Host venue for First Tuesday artist events.
  • Mountain Oyster Club Partner — Hosted a "First Tuesday Lecture" event.
  • National Cowboy Museum Partner — Listed as a related link.
  • Patronato San Xavier Partner — Beneficiary of the "San-Xavier Inspired: A Live Art Auction to Promote and Preserve" event.
  • Patronato San Xavier Partner — Received funding from Friends of Western Art.
  • Scottsdale Artists' School Partner — Listed as a related link.
  • Sonorous Partner — Provides live music and dancing at the annual BBQ event
  • Tucson Festival Society Partner — Took over the Artist of the Year Award from the Tucson Festival Society in 1997.
  • Tucson Festival of Books Partner — Co-sponsored the Young Artist and Young Author awards ceremony
  • Tucson Festival of Books Partner — Participates in the Tucson Festival of Books with the Aline Goodman Young Artist Awards.
  • Tucson Museum of Art Partner — Received funding from Friends of Western Art.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Held the "Aline Goodman Young Artist Awards" ceremony at the University of Arizona.