Fundraising Campaign

A Local Gem with Global Impact

Safeguarded by the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center, Stetson’s Permanent Collection reflects the creative energy of our campus community. Composed of over 3,000 items, the collection represents a myriad of art periods and styles. In addition to Stetson alumni, artists in the collection include Elsie Bates-Freund, Betty Woodman, Le Corbusier, Jack Earl, Mary Drake Coles, and most notably, Modernist painter Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938).

Bluemner is a household name on campus, and for good reason! Vera Bluemner Kouba, the artist’s daughter, generously gifted 1,000 pieces of her late father’s art and personal effects to Stetson. As a result, we are the largest repository of Oscar Bluemner’s art —an artist also represented in the Smithsonian, the Whitney and other internationally renowned museums—resides in the heart of DeLand, Florida.

Let’s share this incredible legacy with the world!

Contributions to this campaign kickstarts digitization efforts while fully funding the set-up of a public access platform containing artworks, exhibition history, and museum archive.

Local and global impacts:

• Educational resource for Stetson students
• Extended reach for scholars, curators, and cultural advocates
• Increased visibility for artists in the collection (especially rising artists!)

And finally, expanding the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center’s mission to provide enriching cultural resources and programming to all.

Annual donations of $150 or more include recognition as a Friend of the Hand Art Center. Support from Friends enhances the Hand’s mission to empower our community through critical engagement in the arts. As a benefit of this level of annual support, Friends receive a biannual magazine, invitation to special events, and opportunities for greater involvement in the museum and arts on campus.