The Museum Associates Council or “MAC” was established in 1966 by a small group of members with a strong desire to assist in the ongoing promotion and funding of museum programs. Today, more than 250 dedicated MAC members plan and execute a variety of fundraising events, while promoting a strong camaraderie between members and a shared passion for the Art Museum. The funds raised each year by MAC allows the Palm Springs Art Museum to offer exceptional opportunities for up to 15,000 children and others who take part in our activities. Many of the children receive no other arts education. Money raised also supports essential museum operations which allow for world-class exhibitions. MAC is best known for hosting the annual Gala and biennial events: A Day in the Garden, Let Us Entertain You (LUEY), and Art In Bloom. In addition to these major social and fundraising events, MAC offers its members many volunteer opportunities and enrichment programs. We are especially proud of our scholarship program which supports high school seniors on their way to college to study the arts. MAC members are invited to participate in lectures, luncheons and exclusive enrichment excursions. These wonderful events provide an opportunity for members to meet and become friends while supporting the Art Museum. MAC members include full and part-time residents of the desert, retirees, business people, philanthropists and anyone with a desire to assist in the promotion and funding of Art Museum programs while expanding their cultural knowledge and making new friendships.You must be a member of the museum to be eligible for MAC membership. Annual membership in MAC is $150 for an individual or $200 for a couple. Membership fees are fully tax-deductible.
To learn more about MAC contact:
Ana Pfaff
MAC Events Manager
760.322.4844
Maile Vreeken
MAC Coordinator
760.322.4816
To become a member, click below:
To download a PDF of the MAC Newsletter MACazine, click here.
2011-2012 MACalendar
Click here for downloadable PDF of MACalendar and general MAC information
Lecture by Jo Lauria
The "Talismans of Power" Jewelry Designs by Tony Duquette
January 23, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., Annenberg Theater ($65/$35)
10:30 a.m. Speaker: Jo Lauria, Curator & Art Historian
12 p.m. Luncheon & Trunk Show
Jo Lauria, independent curator and craft/design historian, with a degree in art history from Yale University and in studio art from Otis College of Art and Design will be speaking about the fascinating jewelry of Tony Duquette. Born in Los Angeles, Duquette is considered an American design icon. The eclectic, romantic, and ethnic styling of his jewelry creations reflects his intriguing life and experiences. Please join us for a wondrous journey into the exotic and ornamental world of Tony Duquette and his spectacular works of jewelry art. In addition, an exciting Trunk Show will provide the opportunity to purchase exquisite collections from feature acclaimed Studio Craft artists offering one-of-a-kind jewelry and accessories. Reservations for this enriching lecture luncheon can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816. Tickets are $65 per person, $35 lecture-only.
Palm Springs Art Museum Annenberg Theater and Houston Atrium
Pink Martini is not only the inspiration for the museum’s gala on Saturday, February 4, but also a celebration of artistry and performance at its best! Co-Chaired by Helene Galen and Jamie Kabler, this will be an evening filled with beautiful melodies that will highlight the amazing musical sounds of romance and sophistication that can only be delivered by the sensational and internationally successful twelve-member ensemble that is Pink Martini.
Please join us for this memorable evening! You will enjoy cocktails upon arrival and partake in a scrumptious dinner followed by the exciting sounds of Pink Martini in concert in the Annenberg Theater for what promises to be a sold-out performance that you will not want to miss!
Event invitations are available in print format. To request an event invitation, please contact Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816, or with your full name and mailing address.
Pink Martini Gala After Party
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 8 p.m. ($50)
Houston Atrium
This special event is in conjunction with museum's annual Gala, which will feature a live performance in the Annenberg Theater by this renowned group. For those unable to attend the Gala, the museum will show a live telecast of the concert on a large screen in the museum's main level, complete with an extensive open bar and dessert buffet. Following the concert, a rocking dance party will continue at the museum.
Click here to purchase your After Party tickets. To view the After Party e-vite, please click here. The Parker Palm Springs, official hotel sponsor, will be offering a special rate! See e-vite for more information. Hear this amazing group perform by clicking here.
For more information on the Gala and/or After Party, please contact Ana Pfaff, Events Manager, at 760.322.4844 or .
February 15, 2012 at 8:30 & 9 a.m. Bus to San Diego ($125)
Blue skies, balmy breezes and the artistic treasures of San Diego await us, as we board a MAC excursion bus. From the 8:30 a.m. pickup at The River and the 9 a.m. pickup at the museum, MAC trip planner extraordinaires, Cheryl Fey and Mimi Gittelson, have planned an exciting, enriching day before we return to the desert around 6:30 p.m. We will experience the best of Balboa Park, beginning with a luncheon in the elegant Sculpture Court Café before enjoying a Docent-led “Highlights Tour” of the San Diego Art Museum. After that, a walk to the Mingei International Museum to view “San Diego’s Craft Revolution”. Tickets are $125 per person. This MAC Member-only excursion is not to be missed! Be sure to make your reservation before the bus fills up. Reservations can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816.
On Monday, March 5 2012 the Museum Associates Council will present A Day in the Garden, a fun and festive biennial fundraiser for the museum.
Co-chaired by Leslie Usow and Randy Bruno, A Day in the Garden is one of the most anticipated events produced by the Museum Associates Council.
Enjoy a Champagne Reception, shopping at The Boutique, a delicious Luncheon at your table, an exciting Live Auction, wonderful Opportunity Drawing prizes and of course, a few surprises along the way!
Special thanks to David Kaplan and Glenn Ostergaard, who have generously donated the use of their beautiful Palm Springs estate for the event.
We are very excited to offer our Members the exclusive opportunity to attend A Day in the Garden as a guest of the Museum Associates Council (MAC). You will enjoy a uniquely themed and beautifully decorated table as well as a catered lunch. This is the perfect opportunity to experience this wonderful event for those unable to host a table. Each guest at the MAC Table must be a MAC Member to partake in the day’s festivities, and in return the museum requests a required donation. If you would like to attend as a guest at the MAC Table, please contact the MAC Office as soon as possible to confirm your reservation as seating is limited and always sells out. The deadline for purchasing MAC Table tickets is January 20, 2012. We hope to see you there!
Please join us for another splendid day of friendship, food, great fun and shopping to support the Palm Springs Art Museum.
If you are interested in hosting a table, attending A Day in the Garden, or if you have any questions about limited volunteer opportunities or making any type of donation, please contact Maile Vreeken, Museum Associates Council Coordinator, at 760.322.4816, or as soon as possible. Seating is limited and always sells out.
Lecture by Susan Vreeland
Clara and Mr. Tiffany: The Unknown Woman Behind Tiffany Glass Lampshades
March 26, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., Annenberg Theater ($65/$35)
10:30 a.m. Speaker: Susan Vreeland, Internationally known author of art-related historical fiction
12 p.m. Luncheon, Trunk Show and Book Signing
Join dynamic Susan Vreeland, a New York Times best-selling author, as she discusses her latest book, Clara and Mr. Tiffany. Be fascinated by beautiful images of Tiffany glass as you discover Clara Driscoll, the lead designer and head of the women's department at Tiffany Studios, publically unacknowledged by Louis Comfort Tiffany and unknown for a century. Clara and Mr. Tiffany will be available for purchase in the Museum Store and a book signing will follow the luncheon. In addition, an exciting Trunk Show will feature acclaimed Studio Craft artists offering one-of-a-kind jewelry and accessories for purchase. Reservations for this enriching lecture luncheon can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816. Tickets are $65 per person, $35 lecture-only.
Lecture by Robert Brasier
Museum Education: Why we do what we do!
& Scholarship Awards Luncheon
April 16, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., Annenberg Theater ($65/$35)
10:30 a.m. Speaker: Robert Brasier, Deputy Director of Education & Public Programs, and Award Presentation
12 p.m. Luncheon
Artist and Educator Robert Brasier has been with the museum since 2002. He received a BFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and an M.A. in Art History from The University of Cincinnati. Join him as he speaks to MAC scholarship recipients about Museum Education: Why We Do What We Do!, encouraging them to pursue their dream of a career in art. The Scholarship Luncheon provides a wonderful opportunity to directly support MAC’s mission to provide art education. Award presentation and luncheon to follow. Reservations for this enriching lecture luncheon can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816. Tickets are $65 per person, $35 lecture-only.
April 23, 2012 at 8:30 & 9 a.m. Bus to Pasadena ($125)
Covering 207 acres, the beautiful Huntington Botanical Gardens showcases more than 14,000 different varieties of plants in more than a dozen principal garden areas. Join us as we explore the newly renovated Japanese Garden, reopening spring of 2012. Occupying nine acres on the slopes of a canyon, the historic and graceful Japanese Garden is one of America’s most elaborate Japanese gardens, with a historic tea house, recently restored in Japan; a fully decorated five-room house; and an outstanding collection of Bonsai. A delightful lunch will follow. With an 8:30 a.m. pickup at The River and a 9 a.m. pickup at the museum, the day will prove to be a marvelous journey into the heart of Pasadena’s beauty. We will return to the desert around 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person. This MAC Member-only excursion is not to be missed! Be sure to make your reservation before the bus fills up. Reservations can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816.
Boarding a luxury coach at 2 p.m., a romantic evening-at-the-opera awaits us as we travel together to L.A. We will have a wonderful dinner before heading over to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to experience Giacomo Puccini’s timeless masterpiece, La Boheme, starring the dazzling Ailyn Perez and Stephen Costello. La Boheme follows the tale of six young Parisians who live an exuberant bohemian existence, surviving on love and laughter. At intermission, we will have refreshments in the Founders Room, before returning to our seats for the rousing conclusion of this heartbreaking story of opera’s most famous lovers. Minimum group size required. Please place your reservation by April 1, 2012. Tickets are $350 per person. This MAC Member-only excursion is not to be missed! Be sure to make your reservation before the bus fills up. Reservations can be made by calling the Box Office at 760.325.4490 or Maile Vreeken at 760.322.4816.
December 14, 2011 at 10:30 a.m., Annenberg Theater ($30)
Excited MAC members and their friends helped us celebrate the start of another exciting season with a sold-out event! Many of our members brought friends and all enjoyed a delightful morning together with a presentation on MAC's mission and season lineup as well as a Docent-led tour of the fabulous exhibition Andrew Wyeth in Perspective and at noon all gathered inside the Houston Atrium for a delicious lunch catered by Westwood Catering. Non-member guests received a one-time 50% discount on their first year of membership for both the museum and MAC and every guest received a 10% discount in the Museum Store!
The Museum Associates Council or “MAC” was established in 1966 by a small group of members with a strong desire to assist in the ongoing promotion and funding of museum programs. Today, more than 250 dedicated MAC members plan and execute a variety of fundraising events, while promoting a strong camaraderie between members and a shared passion for the Art Museum. The funds raised each year by MAC allows the Palm Springs Art Museum to offer exceptional opportunities for up to 15,000 children and others who take part in our activities. Many of the children receive no other arts education. Money raised also supports essential museum operations which allow for world-class exhibitions. MAC is best known for hosting the annual Gala and biennial events: A Day in the Garden, Let Us Entertain You (LUEY), and Art In Bloom. In addition to these major social and fundraising events, MAC offers its members many volunteer opportunities and enrichment programs. We are especially proud of our scholarship program which supports high school seniors on their way to college to study the arts. MAC members are invited to participate in lectures, luncheons and exclusive enrichment excursions. These wonderful events provide an opportunity for members to meet and become friends while supporting the Art Museum. MAC members include full and part-time residents of the desert, retirees, business people, philanthropists and anyone with a desire to assist in the promotion and funding of Art Museum programs while expanding their cultural knowledge and making new friendships. You must be a member of the museum to be eligible for MAC membership. Annual membership in MAC is $150 for an individual or $200 for a couple. Membership fees are fully tax-deductible. 
