The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection

The MFA’s collection is an extraordinary resource. The collection of American art, in particular, offers insight into the founding principles of our nation. Visitors from around the country and the world can trace the efforts of Americans to define themselves as both citizens of a new nation and as individuals in a growing multicultural society—from the nation’s earliest days to the recent past. To accurately represent the cultural history of all Americans, acknowledging the realities of bigotry, racism, and the continuing struggle to attain full civil rights, while honoring the founding principles of the United States—freedom, equality and justice—the MFA seeks to present significant artworks that represent the richness of American art and the diversity of the nation’s people.

The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection was established in 2005 for the purpose of diversifying the Museum’s collection. The Heritage Fund provides acquisition funds for works by American artists of color, broadly defined, and other art that broadens the visitor experience by presenting a more complete record of American culture. Since its inception, The Heritage Fund has supported the purchase of numerous works. We invite you to learn more about acquisition highlights by viewing the slideshow at the bottom of this page.

For more information on The Heritage Fund or to make a direct contribution, please contact the Gifts of Art Program at GOA@mfa.org.