WASHINGTON COUNTY APPROVED BUDGET
FY 2026
Museum of Fine Arts – Department 93300
Contact: Sarah Hall
Established in 1931, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has been recognized as one of the finest small museums in the United States. Its mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit art of lasting quality for the citizens of Hagerstown, Washington County and the surrounding region.
Department Description/Function
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA) is a non-profit organization serving the public good. The mission of the WCMFA is to provide a vibrant place for the presentation and exploration of art of lasting quality for the benefit of a diverse public through intentional art collecting, lively interpretations, diligent preservation and care, active educational programs, and opportunities for social interaction.
Goals Fiscal Year 2026
Continue building a strong, compelling exhibition schedule to drive regional tourism and achieve the goal of becoming a Mid-Atlantic destination. • The attendance and financial impact of a major exhibition Frida Kahlo: Picturing an Icon will be realized mainly in FY2026. We project overall attendance of 15,700 (about 140 visitors per day), which is a 49% increase over our typical 94 visitors per day. • Beginning in September, we will shift focus for a number of months to American art for the semi quincentennial. Other exhibitions planned for the year include: ▪ Cumberland Valley Photographers (through July 27) ▪ Frida Kahlo: Picturing and Icon (through October 5) ▪ In Nature’s Studio: Two Centuries of American Landscape Painting – Complementary Contemporary Art Installation (Sept 13 - Jan 4) ▪ Cumberland Valley Artists – Our flagship semi quincentennial program – artists are responding to national themes (Nov 8 – Mar 1) ▪ Church 200 – Project throughout 2026 – an international effort to commemorate the 200 th anniversary of seminal landscape artist Frederick Church’s birth – also relevant to celebrating American art ▪ The Scandinavian Home: Art and Identity 1880 – 1920 – Traveling exhibition that ties to our founders’ home in Norway (Apr 19 – May 25) ▪ Cumberland Valley Photographers (Opens June 6) • Key Activities – Programming that highlights and connects to the exhibition schedule ▪ Community Days ▪ Concerts ▪ Lectures/Talks ▪ Hands-on experiences Plans for Expansion • Key Activities: ▪ Advance capital campaign to public phase and move project from schematic design through design development and construction documents ▪ Explore a contemporary art advisory group for residency program
2026 Budget Document
193
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