Q&A with Director David E. Little about being a Friend
David E. Little, Mead Director & Chief Curator
Q. Who are the Friends of the Mead?
A. Formed in 2009, the Friends are Amherst alumni and community members who provide vital support for the Mead’s educational mission. Team Mead, the museum’s volunteer student group, is a leading benefactor and catalyst of the Friends. We’re grateful for the generosity shown by all the Friends. Our current goal is to increase the number of Friends and total contributions so we can create more opportunities for all students, from athletes to scientists, to connect with the arts.
Q. In the age of Facebook, it seems like everyone is “friends” with everyone. What’s so special about being a Friend of the Mead?
A. If you’re a Friend of the Mead, you’re helping to connect a new generation of students with the intellectual and aesthetic pleasure of art. That’s what’s so amazing about the Amherst community. Alums have been making those connections possible for generations through their generosity.
Q. If I become a Friend of the Mead, will the museum do “friend” things for me, like help me move or send me a special birthday card?
A. Well, if you don’t live nearby already, we do hope to inspire you, through great exhibitions and installations, to relocate to Amherst. If that’s not possible, you’ll still receive invitations from us to engaging events throughout the year. We can’t help you move, but we can give you a lot to look at and think about. We can also help entertain your friends and family. For free.
Q. Can a museum be my best friend?
A. It depends. Do you need to touch everything on your best friend’s walls? If you do, then, umm, no. But seriously, like a best friend, the Mead is always here for you. We’re open longer hours than almost any museum in the country, and you can visit our collection any hour, day or night, on the web. Yes, of course, we will be your best friend—and introduce you to many more.
Friends of the Mead
David E. Little, Mead Director & Chief Curator and Emily Potter-Ndiaye, Head of Education & the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programs
Join one of our Leadership Giving Societies—which are based on the founding of the Mead Art Museum in 1949—to benefit from exclusive member-only perks and support Amherst College’s treasured art museum.
21st Century Mead: $5,000.00
- Annual Trip with Mead Director and Chief Curator (Domestic or International Trip)*
- Annual Lunch and “Century” Recognition Dinner with Mead Director and Chief Curator
- Art Museum Reciprocal Network (Free Museum Admission)
- College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program (Free Museum Admission)
- Invitation to Exclusive Art Gallery Events and Artists’ Studios in Major Cities
- Personal Invitation to Mead Openings and Dinner with Mead’s Affiliated Artists
- Special Gift: Mead’s New Publications
*Associated costs not included
The 1949 Director’s Circle: $1,949.00
- Annual Lunch with Mead Director and Chief Curator
- Art Museum Reciprocal Network (Free Museum Admission)
- College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program (Free Museum Admission)
- Invitation to Exclusive Art Gallery Events and Artists’ Studios in Major Cities
- Personal Invitation to Mead Openings and Dinner with Mead’s Affiliated Artists
- Special Gift: Mead’s Collection Catalogue
The Rotherwas Society: $194.90
- Art Museum Reciprocal Network (Free Museum Admission)
- College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program (Free Museum Admission)
- Invitation to Exclusive Art Gallery Events and Artists’ Studios in Major Cities
- Personal Invitation to Mead Openings
- Special Gift: Rotherwas Project Artists’ Note Cards
The 1949 Society: $19.49
- College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program (Free Museum Admission)
- Invitation to Exclusive Art Gallery Events and Artists’ Studios in Major Cities
- Personal Invitation to Mead Openings
Ways to Give
Option 1: Visit our secure web page.
Option 2: Give by phone, 1-866-542-GIFT (4438)
Option 3: Give by mail. Make check payable to “Trustees of Amherst College” and send to Friends of the Mead Art Museum, AC 2228, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000.