Palm Springs Art Museum has announced Q+ Art, a major new initiative that centers on the work of artists who identify as LGBTQ+ and combines exhibitions, public programs, collection-building, and awards. Q+ Art not only supports the creative endeavors of LGBTQ+ identified artists, but also presents their often-untold critical histories.
Adam Lerner, the museum’s JoAnn McGrath Executive Director/CEO, says, “The museum has been working with many LGBTQ+ identified artists over the years, but I felt it was time to make a more formal commitment to our community with the creation of a well-defined and comprehensive program. Considering how significant the LGBTQ+ demographic is to Palm Springs, it’s simply obvious that our museum should take a leading role nationally in telling the stories of LGBTQ+ contributions to art and design.”
Last fall, Lerner discussed his ideas with board president Craig Hartzman who not only encouraged its development but agreed to provide seed funding. A group of founding partners and an advisory committee consisting of artists, curators, and gallerists was formed to help define the initiative’s goals and programming elements. Q+ Art will manifest as an ongoing public showcase for LGBTQ+ identified artists through art and design exhibitions, a speaker series, films and performances, and collection of LGBTQ+ art and design. As part of the initiative, the museum will work to add to its LGBTQ+ collection and is in the process of identifying a curator to work on Q+ Art programming. Additionally, there will be annual recognition through a national award to celebrate the achievements of highly accomplished people and support younger artists building their careers.
Hartzman and his husband James John ultimately decided to give a major endowment gift of one million dollars to secure the program in perpetuity. Their gift helped attract the interest of a number of other supporters. Hartzman says, “We are thrilled to give a gift that ensures Q+ Art remains an ongoing part of the museum’s program, and we are thankful to the other donors who have gotten on board early to make it a reality.”
The initiative will have a public kick-off on Saturday, March 16, 2024, with a special day of talks and performances, culminating in a celebration for the opening of the exhibition To Move Towards the Limits of Living featuring works by LGBTQ+ artists from the museum’s permanent collection. There will also be a lecture on LGBTQ+ art history by curator Stamatina Gregory and, as a cornerstone of the day’s activities, the museum will present the inaugural distinguished keynote award to Kent Monkman, an interdisciplinary Cree artist known for his thought-provoking interventions into Western European and American art history.
The museum will be presenting ongoing exhibitions associated with the Q+ Art program and, in fall 2024, will display a major exhibition of work by David Hockney, one of the preeminent gay-identified artists of our time. David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed: Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation is curated by Catherine Whitney, Director of Curatorial Affairs, and Katherine Love, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Honolulu Art Museum. It is organized by Honolulu Art Museum in Partnership with the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation.
Early supporters of Q+ Art who have made generous contributions to the museum to found and secure the program are:
Founding Benefactors: Craig Hartzman and James John. Founders: Simon K. Chiu, Arthur M. Cohen and Daryl R. Otte, Kevin Comer and Rick Distel, Mark Hamilton and Juan Francisco, John P. Monahan, Jonathan Murray and Harvey Reese, Mark Pellegrino and Stuart Kent, Michael W. Rabkin and Chip Tom, Robert Shiell. Patrons: Eric Dingler and Rob Reinhart
The museum is currently developing its spring and summer season and will be announcing future exhibitions and programing related to Q+ Art in the coming weeks.
More information about the Q+ Art opening weekend can be found at psmuseum.org.