The Collection
The DIA's collection is among the top six in the United States, with more than 65,000 works. The foundation was laid by William Valentiner, who was director from 1924 to 1945 and acquired many important works that established the framework of today's collections. Among his notable acquisitions are Mexican artist Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry fresco cycle, which Rivera considered his most successful work, and Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait, the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum collection.
A hallmark of the DIA is the diversity of the collection. In addition to outstanding American, European, Modern and Contemporary, and Graphic art, the museum holds significant works of African, Asian, Native American, Oceanic, Islamic, and Ancient art. In 2000, the DIA established the General Motors Center for African American Art as a curatorial department in order to broaden the museum's collection of African American art.
Strategic Plan
When the DIA successfully secured millage funding through 2032 with the renewal in March 2020, it provided an opportunity for the museum to create a new road map for the next three to five years. This strategic plan serves as a blueprint for the entire organization to follow as we collectively implement our priorities for the future and evaluate our success serving our communities.
Pillars
- Create an extraordinary experience for every DIA visitor, onsite, online, and in the community
- Continue to foster a sense of belonging for our team, visitors and tri-county communities based on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in all museum activities
- Cultivate a collaborative, inclusive, and equitable workplace culture to attract, develop and retain a high-performing team
- Develop education, exhibition and public programs and steward our art collection to uplift and reflect the diversity of cultures and human experiences, raising the world-class profile of the DIA
- Secure financial stability and support creativity for current and future generations by growing the DIA’s endowment
- Build digital capabilities that enable efficient teamwork and inspire our onsite and online audiences
History
Founded in 1885, the museum was originally located on Jefferson Avenue, but, due to its rapidly expanding collection, moved to the current site on Woodward Avenue in 1927. The Beaux-Arts building, designed by Paul Cret, was immediately referred to as the "temple of art." Two wings were added in the 1960s and 1970s, and a major renovation and expansion that began in 1999 was completed in 2007.
The museum covers 658,000 square feet that includes more than 140 galleries, a 1,140-seat auditorium, a 333-seat lecture/recital hall, an art reference library, and a state-of-the-art conservation department.
Leadership
Director, President and CEO
The museum's director is Salvador Salort-Pons, who arrived in 2008 from the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Salort-Pons served as Executive Director of Collections Strategies and Information before becoming Director, President and CEO in 2015.
- Bryan C. Barnhill II
- Ann Berman
- Dr. Charles M. Boyd
- Richard A. Brodie
- Denise Brooks-Williams
- Mary Culler
- Joanne Danto
- Charles Dunlap
- Blake Ellis
- Lawrence T. García
- Christine Giampetroni
- Thomas Guastello
- Sonia Hassan
- Hassan K. Jaber
- Charley Jackson
- Shirley Kaigler
- David P. Larsen
- Matthew B. Lester
- John D. Lewis
- Dr. Hubert W. Massey
- Julie Matuzak
- Nancy Mitchell
- Ali Moiin
- Takashi Omitsu
- Marsha L. Philpot
- Damon Porter
- Judith Pritchett, Ph.D.
- Christine Provost
- W Fair Radom
- Dina Richard
- Victoria J. Rogers, observer
- Renata C. Seals
- Paula F. Silver
- Michael Simcoe
- Lori Singleton
- Jason E. Tinsley
- Padma Vattikuti
- Rhonda D. Welburn
- Kimberley Wiegand
Chairman | Lane Coleman
Vice Chairs | Ralph J. Gerson, Cynthia N. Ford
Secretary | Maria Donovan
Transition Officer | Bonnie Ann Larson
Legal Counsel | Josh Opperer, Alan S. Schwartz
- Hon. Charles W. Anderson III
- Jeffrey T. Antaya
- Tina Bassett
- Chacona Johnson-Baugh
- Yvette Bing
- Andrew L. Camden
- Elaine C. Driker
- Hon. Trudy DunCombe Archer
- Kenneth Eisenberg
- Nicole Eisenberg
- Walter O. Evans
- Dede Feldman
- Jennifer Fischer
- Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr.
- David M. Hempstead
- Jean Wright Hudson
- George G. Johnson
- Ralph J. Mandarino
- Richard A. Manoogian
- Dave E. Meador
- Reuben A. Munday
- Glenda D. Price
- Katherine D. Rines
- Diane M. Schoenith
- Thomas W. Sidlik
- John W. Stroh III
- Samuel Thomas, Jr.
- Reginald M. Turner, Jr.
- Amanda Van Dusen
- Janis Wetsman
- Hon. Helene N. White
- Trudi K. Wineman
- Hon. Dennis W. Archer
- Dr. Bettye Arrington-Martin
- David Bing
- Gayle Shaw Camden
- Lois Pincus Cohn
- Mary Kay Crain
- Junia Doan
- Peter A. Dow
- Sis Fisher
- Marilyn Flint
- Sidney E. Forbes
- Edsel B. Ford II
- Eleanore Gabrys
- Mary Anne Gargaro
- Stephanie Germack-Kerzic
- Allan D. Gilmour
- Robert Gorlin
- Argentina Hills
- Ed Levy, Jr.
- Linda Dresner Levy
- David B. Lewis
- John Marshall
- Mariam Noland
- Philip H. Power
- Ellen Price
- John Rakolta, Jr.
- Ruth F. Rattner
- Maureen Roberts
- Roy Roberts
- Richard L. Rogers
- A. Paul Schaap
- Carol C. Schaap
- Dennis Scholl
- Alan E. Schwartz
- Alan S. Schwartz
- Nettie H. Seabrooks
- William W. Shelden, Jr.
- Eliot R. Stark
- S. Martin Taylor
- Raj Vattikuti
- Joan Webber
- William Wetsman
Reports
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2024
2023
2022
- 2022 Federal Awards Supplement Information
- 2022 Audited Financial Statements as of 6/30/22
- 2021-22 Form 990 (Published 2023)
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Tri-County Millage Reports
Service Agreements
Reports and Procedures
- 2022 Report
- 2021 Report
- 2020 Report
- 2020 AUP
- 2019 Report
- 2019 AUP
- 2018 Report
- 2018 AUP
- 2017 Report
- 2017 AUP
- 2016 Report
- 2016 AUP
- 2015 Report
- 2015 AUP
- 2014 Report
- 2014 AUP
- 2013 AUP
Service Agreements
Reports and Procedures
Service Agreements
Reports and Procedures