Founders Junior Council

FJC members gain privileged access to one of the nation’s major fine arts museums. Enjoy exciting events that provide diverse social and educational opportunities, including opportunities to meet other young professionals and preview special exhibits with exclusive tours by DIA curators. Funds raised support the museum’s endowment, and operations, including K–12 educational programming and public programming.

Members enjoy advanced purchase tickets to Cirque and Fash Bash®.

ArtSeen
Bi-annual evening soirées allowing for private viewings of special exhibitions, as well as the opportunity to socialize and network.

Behind the Scenes
This member-only perk allows after-hours viewing of a special exhibition or loan with a DIA curator.

Cirque
This annual masked fundraiser featuring live entertainment is one of the best evenings in metro Detroit.

Fash Bash®
This annual fundraiser is the “must attend” sell-out event of the summer, with an outstanding celebration of art and fashion.

Join/Renew Membership

In order to be eligible for membership in the Founders Junior Council, you must be a member of The Detroit Institute of Arts.

For more information please call the membership office at 313-833-7971 or email FJC@dia.org.

Executive Officers

• Dexter Mason, President
• Annie G. Thomas, Vice President
• Madelyn Wisne, Membership Chair
• Jamilah Jackson, VP Programming
• Michelle Champane Dickow, Secretary

Directors

• Chinonye Akunne
• Rebecca Applebaum-Wyett
• Christopher Boll
• Brittni Brown
• Shreya Chatterj Reddy
• Nicole Colapietro
• Amina Daniels
• Aaron Dawson
• Geralyn Gaines
• Nicole George
• Whitney Griffin
• LaTresha (LC) Howland
• Danny Kaufman
• Morgan Kaufman
• Eliza Kontulis Getz
• Darin Lenhardt
• Robert Lockett
• Alissa Novoselick
• Kat Quay
• Kumar Raj
• Christopher Rambus
• Joshua Reiter
• Aaron Roberson
• Leslie Rosenberg
• Kelley Saros
• Veronika Scott
• Lindsey Shaw
• Diop Shumake
• Ashley Slatkin
• Alexander Strek
• Jenise Williams
• Matthew Wollack

Looking to the Future, Giving Today.

One of the major functions of the Founders Junior Council is to raise funds for the DIA, and in this capacity the FJC has a substantial impact on the future of the museum. Funds raised by the group are distributed through grants to departments for specific purposes. Following is a list of our recent major grants to the museum.
 

2016
Endowment Campaign: $1,000,000 gift to the museum’s unrestricted operating endowment that will help secure the DIA’s long-term legacy for generations to come. The DIA recognized this historic gift by renaming its Egyptian Gallery the Founders Junior Council Gallery.

2015
Digital X-ray Processor: $15,000 gift (made in conjunction with gifts from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) in support of the DIA Conservation Department’s efforts to preserve the treasures of the DIA art collection. $50K gift to the Art Carts.

2013
Endowment Campaign: $500,000 gift to the unrestricted operating endowment, helping to secure the DIA’s long-term legacy for generations to come.

2011
125th Anniversary Campaign Gift: Funding of the left case of the Paul McPharlin Puppet Collection $200,000 Puppet & Family Sundays Program: Program Support for one year $50,000

2009
Curatorial Department: Funding of 2009-10 Arts and Minds Brochure- $7,310

Education Department: Drop-in workshops- $30,000

Manoogian Challenge: $20,000

2001
European Paintings Department: Acquisition of antique period frame for Poussin's Selene and Endymion — $35,000

2000
Native American Art Department: Acquisition of Great Lakes Native American Spoon — $25,000

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Department: Reinstallation and reinterpretation of the 16th- and 17th-Century French Collection — $48,000

1999
Department of American Art: Restoration of the pre-Civil War Gallery — $32,000

Graphic Arts Department: Installation of Robert Frank photographs

1998
Twentieth Century Art Department and Education Department: Reinstallation of the 20th Century galleries — $55,000

Department of American Art: Restoration of two 19th Century American Landscape galleries — $40,000

1997
Graphic Arts Department: Acquisition of 14 photographs by Robert Frank — $20,000

Education Department: Establishment of a permanent collections video library — $24,800

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts and Conservation Departments: Conservation of the tapestry Saint Paul Before Porcius Sestus — $25,000

African, Twentieth Century and Graphic Arts Departments: Acquisition of a work by Jacob Lawrence — $5,000

The list of this year's sponsors can be found on the event page here

2023

Gala: As a $25,000 sponsor, the FJC is excited to support this annual event. The 2023 celebration recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Detroit Film Theatre and honors Mary Anne and Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. for their legacy of leadership at the DIA.

2022

Van Gogh in America Exhibition: FJC was a lead sponsor with a $500,000 gift in support of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Van Gogh in America celebrated the Detroit Institute of Art’s status as the first public museum in the United States to purchase a painting by Vincent van Gogh, his Self-Portrait (1887). In honor of the 100th anniversary of its acquisition, visitors experienced 74 authentic Van Gogh works from around the world and discovered the fascinating story of America’s introduction to this iconic artist.

2021

African American Art Operating Endowment: A gift of $350,000 is supporting the acquisition of artworks created by African American artists, including the purchase of works by contemporary artists from Detroit.