Creativity and innovation have never been more central to a successful society than in these early years of the 21st century. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden focuses on presenting art and ideas that are ahead of their time, thought-provoking and compelling.

Our dedication to today’s art and artists means being willing to take risks, follow new artists into different territory and encourage artists and visitors to see the world from other perspectives. Commissioning artists to create new works that engage with current social, political and aesthetic issues is a hallmark of the Hirshhorn’s exhibitions, educational
programs and collecting efforts.

Our modern and contemporary art collections are among the finest in the country, with substantial works by Willem de Kooning, Alexander Calder and Ellsworth Kelly. In recent years, our focus has turned toward new technology with major acquisitions in video art, such as Doug Aitken’s SONG 1, which premiered with a projection across the Hirshhorn’s
exterior façade.

As the museum celebrates its 40th anniversary, we are poised to lead the international conversation about contemporary art and culture. Through your support, we can build a rich, creative space where new ideas surface with the potential to influence society far beyond the museum’s walls. I invite you to join us as we expand and broaden the impact and influence of art in our global society.

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  Melissa Chiu

  Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Since the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden opened in 1974, it has remained committed to its founder’s guiding principle of focusing on the contemporary moment. Joseph Hirshhorn’s gift of an endowment and nearly 12,000 works of art created an enduring legacyand our collections continue to grow. Your support of the Smithsonian Campaign will play a vital role in transforming emerging artists of today into the icons of tomorrow.

Groundbreaking Exhibitions 
A priority is the establishment of an endowment that will provide the resources to maintain the vitality of the museum’s exhibition program for years to come. We will build on our forward-thinking reputation to explore and re-examine modern and contemporary culture through research and transformative exhibitions  and artists' projects.

Gifts to our Directions series and Black Box Gallery, which presents the best in contemporary film and video, will support the museum in presenting the strongest new work by young artists from around the globe.

Collecting and Conserving
At the core of the Hirshhorn is its collection — works in all media and one of the world’s most comprehensive modern sculpture collections. Critical to our growth are the expertise and facilities to preserve these irreplaceable works  for the future.

We will create an onsite Center for Conservation of Modern and Contemporary Art. Gifts to endow our active conservation fellowship program will enrich the museum’s understanding of how to care for its holdings and provide invaluable experience to scholars.

Art +Artists + Audience + Ideas
Public programs are an equal partner to our exhibitions. We will use new technologies integral to 21st-century learning to provide unprecedented levels of interconnectivity and access to our visitors and growing global community. Gifts for major programs like ARTLAB+ and digital initiatives are an investment in the future of arts education that reaches people everywhere.