$3,775 raised by 17 donors
76% complete
$5,000 Goal
ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE IRVING MUSEUMS:
The Friends is a 501(c)3 that provides essential support to the Irving museums. This support funds exhibitions, public programs, educational opportunities for students, and care of our historical collections. Your contribution will help us continue to bring quality programming and learning experiences to our community. Thank you!
ABOUT IRVING'S MUSEUMS:
The Irving Archives and Museum is a 22,000 sq ft facility on the first floor of the Jack D. Huffman Community Building. The museum has a permanent exhibition titled “The Irving Story” that explores the history of our community from early settler days through the present. The museum also includes a Smithsonian Spark!Lab, the first in Texas. In Spark!Lab, students have the opportunity to explore the process of invention through hands-on activities. The activities incorporate STEM with art, history, and creativity. The museum has multiple temporary gallery and programming spaces as well which feature nationally travelling exhibitions and community-curated exhibits and programs.
The Ruth Paine House Museum tells the story of events leading up to the assassination of President Kennedy from a female perspective. Ruth Paine was friends with, and providing shelter to, Marina Oswald in 1963 and Lee Harvey Oswald stayed at the Paine home the night before the assassination. The Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, named for Irving’s first African American councilwoman, includes three historic structures, and interprets the African American Experience from Emancipation through the Civil Rights Movement. Bear Creek is one of the oldest freedman communities in Texas. The Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum and Visitor Center welcomes visitors to the internationally renowned sculpture by Robert Glen. The museum provides the history of the sculpture and provides visitors information about other cultural activities to explore in Irving.
A nationally award winning museum, the Irving Archives & Museum (IAM) will be hosting incredibly significant national exhibitions this coming school year in addition to the award winning permanent exhibit.
Nature's Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art & Design brings together art and design with environmental science using artifacts, artworks and photography, as well as interactive learning stations.
Biomimicry is not a novel idea; Gaudi and Da Vinci both took inspiration from nature. Modern science and technology, however, are rapidly expanding the types of materials and systems we can create. Bird wings. Spiderwebs. Rainbow Trout. These have inspired design improvements that enable faster travel, safer bridges, and more effective wind turbines. Similarly, biomimicry in art is a process that entails exploring the material properties, cycles, and dynamics of nature, and how whole biological systems are structured—and putting that into works of art. Artworks and designs that are rooted in the laws and forms of nature can address pressing issues, such as conservation, sustainability, and environmental justice. They can also spark an interest in, and connection with, nature.
This exhibition is aimed to encourage discourse among audiences of all backgrounds as our understanding of the natural world can lead to some extraordinary creations that improve lives and reduce our impact on the environment. Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design is an adaptation of the High Desert Museum’s Innovation Lab: Design Inspired by Nature, and is produced and toured by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
On view September 4, 2024 through through January 5, 2025.
The Friends of the Irving Museums believes that it is important for as many young people as possible to have the opportunity to experience IAM's exhibitions. To help make this possible, the Friends is raising funds for the Friends Field Trip Scholarship Fund that provides completely free field trips and bus stipends to schools in North Texas. The Scholarship Fund will ensure that educators have the opportunity to enrich their students by giving them the opportunity to see a nationally traveling exhibition right here in North Texas.
Goal - $5,000
The Friends of the Irving Museums is a 501(c)(3) organization established to support the ongoing mission of all City of Irving museums. The Friends of the Irving Museums supports the City of Irving museums, including the: the Irving Archives & Museum, Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, Ruth Paine House Museum, and the Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum.
The mission of the Irving Archives & Museum is to engage visitors through thought-provoking programs and dynamic exhibits that explore the history and evolving culture of our community and our region.
With the Friends Field Trip Scholarship Fund, offering free field trips to local schools, we provide access to cultural education and immersive experiences for students who may otherwise not have the opportunity. Many schools face budget constraints, limiting their ability to provide enriching field trip experiences. By supporting these free field trips, donors play a crucial role in empowering young minds with engaging storytelling and ensure that students see themselves represented in our cultural exhibitions. Your donation directly contributes to fostering inclusivity, promoting cultural understanding, and inspiring the next generation of learners and leaders. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of these students and help shape a more diverse and inclusive future.
The Irving Archives & Museum and all city museums follow the City of Irving's Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
The City of Irving strives to be the most inclusive, welcoming, respectful and understanding municipal organization in North Texas.
Irving is home to one of the most diverse ZIP codes in the nation, with many religions, races, nationalities and beliefs represented. The City of Irving is dedicated to making diversity and inclusivity in the community a priority, to continually refine and develop best practices, and to foster a participatory government.
The city also acknowledges that its employees’ diversity make them uniquely qualified to serve. This is achieved by building and nurturing an employment base that better reflects the races, cultures, faiths, gender identities, generations and philosophies of the community.
The goal is to create programming and engagement opportunities, implement best and emerging practices, and foster an environment of understanding and respect.
This allows for equitable access to programs and services, removal of barriers for engagement, and a culture of safety, trust and belonging.
https://www.cityofirving.org/3696/Diversity-and-Inclusion
Organization name
Friends of the Irving Museums
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
PO Box 170142