The following is a press release provided by the Harn Museum of Art. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff.GAINESVILLE, FL, Sept. 4, 2025—The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Saturday evening, Sept. 27 with a special birthday benefit “Celebrating 35.” The party, offering a variety of entertainment and cuisine for attendees, will raise funds to continue the Harn’s mission to inspire, educate and enrich people’s lives through art by providing free admission for all.
The Harn opened its doors on September 22, 1990. For more than a decade prior to the grand opening, University of Florida administrators, faculty in the College of Fine Arts, and local arts advocates dreamed of a sizable art museum that would serve the University of Florida and the Gainesville community. In 1983 Dr. David A. Cofrin and his wife Mary Ann made this dream possible and donated a generous founding gift toward the construction of an art museum that would be named after Mary Ann’s father Samuel P. Harn. At the time, their $3 million gift was the largest private gift ever received by the University of Florida. State matching funds were secured to complete the construction.
“The Harn Museum of Art has served a growing audience of more than 2.8 million visitors since opening in 1990,” said Harn Museum Director Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield. “This event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the growth of your art museum and connect with others who believe in the power of art. I encourage the community to purchase a ticket that will help the Harn continue to fund exemplary exhibitions and accessible programs for all ages.”
“Celebrating 35,” taking place from 7:30 – 9:30 pm, will feature French-inspired food and artistry drinks provided by Blue Gill Quality Foods/Mildred’s Big City Food, musical performances by The Gainesville String Quartet and Nick DeCarlis Jazz Trio and unforgettable art. Exhibitions on display include French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950, organized by the Brooklyn Museum, with the addition of the Harn’s work by Claude Monet, Champ d'avoine (Oat Field) and The Harn at 35: Recent Photography Acquisitions showcasing more than 150 new photographs that have been added to the Harn’s collection.
Tickets to “Celebrating 35” are $250 for Harn Members and $275 for non-members and can be purchased online at harn.ufl.edu/celebrating35. Harn Membership is free with registration available online at harn.ufl.edu/join. For questions, please contact 352.294.7056 or email development@harn.ufl.edu. Your purchase directly benefits the meaningful work of the Harn Museum of Art.
The following is a press release provided by the Harn Museum of Art. It has been published here as received, without additional reporting or editing by Alachua County Today staff.
GAINESVILLE, FL, Sept. 4, 2025—The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Saturday evening, Sept. 27 with a special birthday benefit “Celebrating 35.” The party, offering a variety of entertainment and cuisine for attendees, will raise funds to continue the Harn’s mission to inspire, educate and enrich people’s lives through art by providing free admission for all. The Harn opened its doors on September 22, 1990. For more than a decade prior to the grand opening, University of Florida administrators, faculty in the College of Fine Arts, and local arts advocates dreamed of a sizable art museum that would serve the University of Florida and the Gainesville community. In 1983 Dr. David A. Cofrin and his wife Mary Ann made this dream possible and donated a generous founding gift toward the construction of an art museum that would be named after Mary Ann’s father Samuel P. Harn. At the time, their $3 million gift was the largest private gift ever received by the University of Florida. State matching funds were secured to complete the construction.
“The Harn Museum of Art has served a growing audience of more than 2.8 million visitors since opening in 1990,” said Harn Museum Director Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield. “This event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the growth of your art museum and connect with others who believe in the power of art. I encourage the community to purchase a ticket that will help the Harn continue to fund exemplary exhibitions and accessible programs for all ages.”
“Celebrating 35,” taking place from 7:30 – 9:30 pm, will feature French-inspired food and artistry drinks provided by Blue Gill Quality Foods/Mildred’s Big City Food, musical performances by The Gainesville String Quartet and Nick DeCarlis Jazz Trio and unforgettable art. Exhibitions on display include French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950, organized by the Brooklyn Museum, with the addition of the Harn’s work by Claude Monet, Champ d'avoine (Oat Field) and The Harn at 35: Recent Photography Acquisitions showcasing more than 150 new photographs that have been added to the Harn’s collection.
Tickets to “Celebrating 35” are $250 for Harn Members and $275 for non-members and can be purchased online at harn.ufl.edu/celebrating35. Harn Membership is free with registration available online at harn.ufl.edu/join. For questions, please contact 352.294.7056 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.