In 1990, Lon and Dick Behr formed the Rockford Art Museum Patron’s Circle, a vital support group. Patrons provide additional funds for the museum’s daily operations, and share a belief that the art museum is essential to our community’s cultural life.

Since it’s inception, the Patrons have grown to 60 active participants whose membership benefits include remarkable travel opportunities.

In Florence, Patrons enjoyed a private party with Michelangelo’s David, and in Venice, Peggy Guggenheim’s home and museum was opened in the evening just for Patrons. Invading Paris, they savored the insights of Sorbonne professors during that institution’s spring vacation. International visits have included trips to Barcelona, Madrid, Biarritz, Bilbao, Lourdes, Nice, Monte-Carlo, and villages in Tuscany, while American adventures featured jaunts to New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Aspen, Houston, Fort Worth, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Patron trips emphasize learning about art and architecture through cultural exploration and tours of both museums and private collections

Future odysseys under consideration include a tour through Tuscany with Laura Johnson, and a proposed Berlin trip. Another possible journey entitled, “Art and Antiques”, would begin with 3 days in Paris to visit museums, antique stores, and flea markets, followed by 3 days in Provence, pausing at archeological spots and the famed repository of antique treasures, L’Isle sur la Sorgue. The trip would continue with a drive through the magnificent Gorges de Verdun, (France’s Grand Canyon) before ending on the French Riviera with visits to Impressionist museums.

Though the group exists to assist the Rockford Art Museum become a more visibly significant cultural institution, their members enjoy unique travel events and educational opportunities. The Patrons’ strong contributions prove critical to our success, and we value their loyalty and generosity.