The Association of Friends began with a group of enthusiastic founders who
felt attracted to the idea of creating a “society” to help the National Museum
of Fine Arts and to promote and enhance its collections.
Thus, on Thursday, October 22, 1931, during a memorable Assembly, was born the
“Society of Friends of the Museum”, a name suggested by one of the founding
members, Mr. Francisco Llobet, perhaps inspired by Mr. Cupertino del Campo.
Since its creation by Mr. Llobet and to this day, a long journey was undertaken,
whose milestones would be impossible to enumerate within this presentation.
However, we should at least mention here some of the highlights in the history
of the present Association of Friends of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
But let us go back in history to October 16, 1961. It was on that day that the
Institution was granted legal person, and could begin to operate as a non profit
civil entity, based on a coherent legal body that allows it to receive public
subsidies, open banking accounts, underwrite contracts, have certified
accounting books, and to take the necessary steps for an efficient management.
In brief, State control confers on our Association the indispensable hierarchy
to enable it to attain the objectives clearly summarized in Article 1 of its
by-laws.
It is worth noting that since 1995, the Association presides the Argentine
Federation of Friends of Museums (FADAM). This entity includes Associations of
Friends of Museums from all over the country, and its basic goal is to
contribute to the preservation, conservation and diffusion of the historic,
artistic and scientific cultural heritage of Argentina. The Argentine Federation
currently has over 85 member Associations, and is in turn affiliated to the
World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM), and is part of its Executive
Committee. Since 1997, Mrs. Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier is its Vice-president for
South America.
The Association is currently headed by a Board of Directors, with 16 members.
Executive functions are entrusted to a President.
The Board of Directors is responsible for pursuing the objectives set out by our
founders and for fostering the development of the Museum, both artistically and
materially. The Entity’s by-laws are the undisputed framework for its management
and are in total harmony with its goals.
The Association has at present 788 members, in six different categories. The
benefits each of them receives are directly proportional to the fee they pay.
Members’ contributions are a vital part of the Association’s budget and an
indispensable collaboration.
The Association increasingly strives to obtain resources in order to constantly
enhance the Museum. It raises funds through various cultural activities and also
accepts corporate members. Among the Association’s countless initiatives, we
must mention the organization of temporary exhibitions of domestic and
international prestige, concerts, courses on the History of Art and painting and
drawing workshops.