This supplement celebrates 25 years of the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art. From its humble beginnings as a travelling exhibition with no place to call home to becoming the preeminent gallery of Bermuda art, this is one of our greatest local success stories. Here are some of the highlights of that journey:
1987:
• Tom Butterfield purchases his first 12 works which he christens ‘The 12 Apostles.’
1992:
• Masterworks purchases Georgia O’Keeffe’s Banyan Tree Trunk with the proceeds of Tom Butterfield’s fourth completion of the London Marathon.
• Masterworks’ first educational initiative Artists Encounters is held at Admiralty House.
• A Bermudian family trust secures Winslow Homer’s Inland Water, giving it to the Masterworks on permanent loan.
2000:
• The first Masterworks overseas exhibition is held at the Woodmere Museum in Pennsylvania and is followed by one held at the Richard York Gallery, NY.
• The Foundation secures the Marsden Hartley Sunken Treasure. Additionally it purchases Albert Gleizes Portrait of Juliette at Sotheby’s auction in November (pictured right).
2002:
• Masterworks moves to the Arrowroot Factory in April and starts the clean-up and renovation.
2003:
• Fifteen years after its conception, Masterworks opens its own gallery in the Arrowroot Factory.
• Prince Charles becomes its principal patron.
2005-2007:
• The capital campaign for the museum commences and the construction begins.
2007:
• In November a roof-wetting ceremony is held. Michael Douglas helps pour the rum.
2008:
• The Museum opens to the public March 2.
• Henry Moore sketches are given on permanent loan to Masterworks.
• The annual Charman Prize competition is held for the first time
2009:
• Masterworks receives the award for Best Museum from The Bermudian magazine for the first time.
• The We are Sailing exhibition opens to celebrate Bermuda’s 400th anniversary.
• Masterworks partners with the Jamestown Foundation in Virginia by lending art and artifacts to them for their 400th anniversary exhibition.
2010:
• Awarded VIP Best Visitor Attraction / Activity.