In the spring of 1952, 50 women gathered on the grounds of the newly opened Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery at the University of Miami with a simple idea: string up a clothesline, hang some paintings, and invite the public to meet the artists who made them. The Clothesline Sale was modest in scale but clear in purpose: art belonged to everyone, and this fledgling museum in Coral Gables deserved a community of champions.
Seventy-five years later, Beaux Arts has grown into one of the most consequential volunteer groups in South Florida's cultural landscape. The organization, founded under the direction of Anne Atkinson, then assistant director of the Lowe, now counts more than 100 active members and more than 350 associates.
This year, in celebration of its 75th anniversary, Beaux Arts announced its most ambitious commitment yet—a $1.57 million visitor experience endowment to promote public accessibility and expand the Lowe's operating hours.
“As we approached our 75th anniversary, we reflected on the extraordinary legacy built by the generations of Beaux Arts members whose passion, dedication, and vision have shaped our organization. We wanted to honor their contributions while creating something meaningful for those who will follow in their footsteps,” Francesca Valdes, immediate past president of Beaux Arts, said.
The gift brings the organization past $10 million in cumulative support for the Lowe Art Museum. The University's leadership took note of the milestone. Joel Samuels, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, acknowledged the broader significance of the accomplishment for the institution and the community it serves.
“What Beaux Arts has accomplished over 75 years is a remarkable testament to the power of sustained, community-driven philanthropy,” Samuels said. “Their generosity has shaped the Lowe in ways that will endure for generations, and this endowment ensures that even more members of our community will have access to the arts and cultural experiences the museum provides.”
Ansley Campbell, Beaux Arts president, reflected on the anniversary and the gift.
“We are incredibly proud to honor the women who came before us and built this remarkable legacy of service, philanthropy, and advocacy for the arts. Reaching more than $10 million in cumulative support for the Lowe Art Museum is an extraordinary milestone, and this transformational endowment ensures that future generations will have greater access to the arts, educational opportunities, and cultural experiences that enrich our community,” Campbell said.
The Clothesline Sale became the Beaux Arts Festival of Art, now one of Florida's most recognized juried outdoor art shows, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and featuring more than 200 artists from across the country. The Annual Costume Ball, the oldest of its kind in the area, has become a long-standing fall tradition.
The Student Artist Showcase invites middle and high school students to exhibit alongside professional artists, with winners receiving cash prizes and the opportunity to show work at the Lowe Art Museum. The Beaux Arts Summer Art Camp brings children ages five through 12 onto the University of Miami campus each summer for hands-on studio experiences. Then there is HandsOn! A Children's Celebration of Art, which provides free busing, guided museum tours, and supervised artmaking for children across South Florida.
Jill Deupi, Beaux Arts executive director and chief curator of the Lowe Art Museum, points to this kind of programming as central to what Beaux Arts has meant to the institution.
“Thanks to them, thousands of schoolchildren have toured our galleries and created their own masterpieces, learning about history, culture, and perhaps most importantly, themselves and others along the way,” Deupi said.
Previous gifts from the organization have shaped the museum in lasting ways, including named spaces within its walls and an endowment of the museum director's position, a significant act of investment in the Lowe's long-term leadership.
The new visitor experience endowment builds on that history. By providing sustainable funding to expand public access, including extended operating hours, the gift addresses a practical barrier that can stand between a community member and a museum visit.
“Guided by our enduring commitment to expanding access to the arts and arts education, we recognized an opportunity to make a transformational investment in the future. The Endowment for the Beaux Arts Visitor Experience embodies that vision—ensuring that countless visitors will be connected to the arts for generations to come,” Valdes said.
For a group of 100 volunteers, the scale of this commitment reflects what steady, collective effort can produce over time.
“Beaux Arts has been an integral part of the Lowe virtually from the start of our history. For three-quarters of a century, they have touched lives and built community in Coral Gables and greater Miami-Dade County by broadening access to education and enrichment through the arts,” Deupi said.
They built the Children's Pavilion in 1953. They launched the Docent Program that still guides visitors through the galleries today. They opened a museum store, produced cookbooks, and organized student art competitions. With this new endowment, Beaux Arts are working to make sure more people can walk through the Lowe's doors in the years ahead.
