Museum Info

Monday – Saturday:
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday:
Noon – 5 p.m.

500 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Eiteljorg Board Member Jasmin French named a 2020 finalist for UWCI’s ELEVATE Award

The Eiteljorg Museum is so excited that Jasmin French has been named a 2020 finalist for the ELEVATE Award for Board Member of the Year. Jasmin is a current member of the Eiteljorg Board of Advisors, serves on the Eiteljorg’s Marketing Council and previously served as president of the museum’s young professional auxiliary group, AGAVE. She is also one of three finalists for the People’s Choice Award. You can help her win by voting for her at this link; http://bit.ly/2v0gAcr. Each vote costs $1. All proceeds go to the United Way of Central Indiana.

We wanted you to get to know her and why she choose to serve at the Eiteljorg.

Q: Why did you decide to join AGAVE, the Eiteljorg’s young professional auxiliary?
A: I was looking for a way to take my interest in artwork (contemporary paintings at the time) to the next level. I wanted to be a part of an arts institution where I could be in the know about cool events, exhibits and artist’s visits – and maybe get a discount ticket or two!  When I moved back to Indianapolis in 2011, I was introduced to the Eiteljorg and later AGAVE.  I decided to join AGAVE because I felt like my desires for more interaction with Indy’s art scene would be met while also becoming more plugged in with young professionals. I had just relocated to Indy from Chicago (where I’d been quite involved with young professionals and the arts) and I was excited about having an opportunity to continue my involvement knowing how much I gained from it.

Q: You were elected to be the president of AGAVE, what was your favorite thing you did while serving in that role?
A: I had the benefit of serving as president during a Contemporary Arts Fellowship year (Fellowship occurs only once every other year). I was able to work with our great AGAVE leadership team to bring a cocktail lounge vibe to the very popular Fellowship Arts Party held at the Museum.  We had white leather couches, bottle service and a roped off VIP section exclusively for AGAVE members.  That night was so fun because Fellowship has a reputation for contemporary artistic expression which tends to attract a younger demographic.  It was great to showcase the museum and what it was capable of that night to existing and prospective AGAVE members.  There was an amazing performance by a Tribe Called Red (an amazing group of vocalists and DJs that mix hip-hop with traditional pow wow drums and electronic music styles).

Q: Currently, you are a member of the Board of Advisors, can you share how being on AGAVE’s board prepared you for this new role?
A:
When I was “called up” and invited to join the Board of Advisors, I was very grateful and excited.  I knew that serving on AGAVE for three years, attending multiple museum events annually and participating in the museums’ efforts to attract more young professionals were some of the main reasons I was on the radar of the Board of Directors Executive Committee.  I think AGAVE prepared me for the role, by creating an opportunity for me to plan interesting and unique events while always staying aligned with the museum’s mission and strategic objectives.  Just being able to have a perspective on how best to raise awareness about the museum that went beyond successfully executing a Saturday night event…and instead adopting a perspective that spanned multiple years, has allowed me to contribute from the start as a board member.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece of art at the Eiteljorg Museum?
A: It is so hard to choose! I will say that I absolutely loved the piece “Sunburst” by Rita Letendre that appeared in the exhibit “Blurring the Lines,” which just closed in early February. But I am also always drawn to “Stillwater Crossing” by Daniel Smith. No matter how many times I have seen it, I always end up stopping for a few minutes and just staring.

Q: What is your hope for the Eiteljorg Museum?
A: My hope is that the Eiteljorg continues its 30-year history of telling the stories of Native Americans and the American West while always doing it in a way that is fresh, unique, inclusive and appealing to the diverse interests of its patrons.

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