Milwaukee Art Museum Announces 2026 Art:Forward Gala Celebrating 25 Yearsof the Quadracci Pavilion
Milwaukee’s business, philanthropic, civic, and cultural leaders will gather beneath the iconic wings to celebrate the artistry, ambition, and civic vision behind a landmark that transformed a city.
MILWAUKEE, Wis.,—July 21, 2025—The Milwaukee Art Museum will host the Art:Forward Gala on Saturday, Sept. 19, celebrating 25 years of the Quadracci Pavilion, the Museum’s largest work of art and one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable landmarks. Rising from the shore of Lake Michigan with wings that open above the city, the Santiago Calatrava-designed building has become a powerful symbol of Milwaukee’s creativity, confidence, and civic pride.
The evening will bring together Milwaukee’s business, philanthropic, civic and cultural leaders to celebrate the vision, collaboration, and bold civic leadership that brought the Quadracci Pavilion to life and continues to propel the Museum forward. As the Museum’s only annual fundraising event, proceeds support artistic, educational, and community-driven programs that connect people with art, each other, and the world.
“Art:Forward gives us the opportunity to celebrate not only an extraordinary building, but also the spirit that made it possible,” said Dr. Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “The Quadracci Pavilion changed Milwaukee’s skyline and expanded our sense of what could be achieved. Twenty-five years later, it remains a powerful expression of creativity, welcome, and civic pride, and a reminder of what becomes possible when a community embraces a bold idea.”
The Art:Forward Gala is a signature moment in Built to Inspire, the Museum’s yearlong celebration of the Quadracci Pavilion’s 25th anniversary and its enduring role in Milwaukee’s civic and cultural life. More than a landmark, the building has served for a quarter century as a place for art, celebration, learning, reflection, and connection.
Guests are invited to gather beneath the Pavilion’s iconic wings for an evening of dinner, dancing, and celebration. Together, they will recognize the people and partnerships behind one of Milwaukee’s boldest civic achievements and champion the exhibitions, educational experiences, and community programs that will shape the Museum’s next chapter.
Tables and tickets are available now. Proceeds directly support the Milwaukee Art Museum’s mission. Reserve through mam.org/art-forward.
Event Details
Date: September 19, 2026
Location: The Quadracci Pavilion in the Milwaukee Art Museum
Silver Anniversary Host Committee Table: $25,000 for 10 guests
Art:Forward Table: $15,000 for 10 guests
Supporter Table: $7,500 for eight guests
VIP Ticket: $2,500
Individual Ticket: $750
All but $150 per ticket may be tax-deductible. For questions about the gala or Museum support opportunities, contact Sarah Kolar, manager of stewardship and donor events, at 414-224-3259 or sarah.kolar@mam.org
About the Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum is an essential destination for art and architecture and a vital cultural resource that connects visitors to dynamic art experiences and one another. Housed in iconic buildings by Santiago Calatrava, Eero Saarinen, and David Kahler on a 24-acre lakefront campus, the Museum is Wisconsin’s largest art institution and home to both broad and deep collections, with exceptional holdings in American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; European art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design; folk and self-taught art; and twentieth-century Haitian art. A bold symbol of Milwaukee’s ambition and forward-thinking vision, the Museum is a place for community building, education, and celebration that fosters creativity, free speech, and critical discourse for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mam.org.
Media Contact
For more information or to request hi-res images, please contact:
Cortney Heimerl
Milwaukee Art Museum
communications@mam.org
414-940-0490
