Dear Museum Members and Supporters,

Since 1988, the Fresno Art Museum’s Council of 100 has each year honored a woman artist over the age of 60 who has spent thirty years or more in the studio, has created a unique and prestigious body of work, and lives 100 miles outside of Fresno with a solo exhibition and a companion catalog. This year dancer/choreographer, Donna Sternberg, is the Distinguished Woman Artist for 2026 and her retrospective exhibition, consisting of historic photographs and looped videos of her company’s performances between 1970 and 2025, opened at FAM on August 1st.

Every year in late summer, the Museum invites the Council of 100 affiliate members and general members to the Council of 100 Lecture and Luncheon held annually in October at the Museum. Please see the attached flyer and response form securing your ticket(s) to this annual event celebrating Donna Sternberg and her Company.

For the first time in the thirty-seven-year history of the Council of 100, their Selection Committee chose a performance-based artist rather than an artist working in static two- or three-dimensions. Consequently, rather than a catalog associated with her show, Donna Sternberg & Dancers will be performing on December 12, 2026 at a venue to be announced. Those attending the Lecture/Luncheon will be given one ticket to the performance in lieu of the usual gratis exhibition catalog.

Because we did not raise funds to publish a catalog, you will see that this response form also requests an additional donation to bring Donna and her dance company here to Fresno for three days in December. Their transportation, hotel, food, and rehearsal time, plus the rental of the theatrical venue is an $8,000 expense related directly to honoring her as the Council of 100 Distinguished Woman Artist for 2026. We are asking you to please give generously to support the expenses of Donna Sternberg & Dancer’s performance in Fresno later this year bringing our honoring of Donna to fulfillment. We are all looking forward to seeing Donna Sternberg and her small troupe perform in Fresno.

Thank you so much for your continued support of the Council of 100, its annual Lecture and Lucheon, and this enrichment program in December. Your current Council of 100 support assures the longevity of this illustrious and historic FAM member group honoring women artists. Without you, the Council of 100 could not bestow this important award and all that it means to the honoree. We intend to continue this special recognition of deserving women artists for many years to come.

Truly,

Michele Ellis Pracy

Executive Director and Chief Curator

Pamela Akin Nelson

Chair, Council of 100