2025 Barnes Art Ball
Friday, October 17
Celebrating the power of art to uplift and inspire.
About the Art Ball
The Barnes Art Ball is our annual friend- and fundraiser that gathers an enthusiastic mix of artists, philanthropists, collectors, connectors, and community partners for an art-filled and celebratory evening. The event champions our core belief that art has the power to inspire us through shared experiences of the brilliant, the beautiful, and the sublime.
This year, we present an evening inspired by the lush, imaginative world of Henri Rousseau’s jungle paintings. The Barnes is home to the world’s largest collection of works by the self-taught artist, and the 2025 Art Ball is an exclusive opportunity to preview Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets—the exhibition opens to the public on October 19 and will travel to Paris in spring 2026. Explore the work of this beloved yet elusive painter who created some of the most memorable paintings of the modern era.
In addition to exclusive early access to Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets, you’ll enjoy a free-flowing campus-wide event with multiple bars, abundant food stations, live music and DJs, pop-up performances throughout the evening, and access to the Barnes collection.
BEST OF ALL? IT’S FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Art, community, entertainment, and philanthropy. The Barnes Art Ball raises critical funds that ensure the future of the foundation’s educational mission, exhibition program, and collection care, and the wide array of community, artistic, and scholarly projects undertaken by the organization.
Attire: Artful, creative, chic cocktail
Tickets: On sale now
Questions? Email hluff@barnesfoundation.org.
STAY CONNECTED
#BarnesFoundation
#SeeArtDifferently
#BarnesArtBall
Scenes from Past Events
Tickets & Sponsorship
Benefactor: $50,000 (Estimated value of goods and services $1,750)
- 14 VIP event tickets with early admission to champagne reception at 6pm.
- Invitation to serve on host committee.
- Opportunity to host a private event at the Barnes.
- Opportunity for an exclusive curatorial presentation at your choice of location or virtually.
- Private tour of Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets for you and up to 14 guests (Oct 2025–Feb 2026).
- Acknowledgement in print and digital event collaterals, Barnes annual report, and donor wall.
Underwriting Sponsor: $25,000 (Estimated value of goods and services $1,500)
- 12 VIP event tickets with early admission to champagne reception at 6pm.
- Invitation to serve on host committee.
- Opportunity for an exclusive curatorial presentation at your choice of location or virtually.
- Private tour of Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets for you and up to 12 guests (Oct 2025–Feb 2026).
- Acknowledgement in print and digital event collaterals, Barnes annual report, and donor wall.
Event Sponsor: $10,000 (Estimated value of goods and services $1,250)
- 10 VIP event tickets with early admission to champagne reception at 6pm.
- Invitation to serve on host committee.
- Private tour of Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets for you and up to 10 guests (Oct 2025–Feb 2026).
- Acknowledgement in print and digital event collaterals, Barnes annual report, and donor wall.
VIP Ticket Block: $6,000 (Estimated value of goods and services $390)
- 6 VIP event tickets with early admission to champagne reception at 6pm.
- Invitation to serve on host committee.
- Acknowledgment in print and digital event collateral and Barnes annual report.
VIP Ticket: $1,200 (Estimated value of goods and services $65)
- Early admission to champagne reception and Art Ball event at 6pm.
Patron Ticket: $650 (Estimated value of goods and services $65)
- Art Ball event admission at 7pm.
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
The Barnes Art Ball offers companies unique and customized brand exposure through various sponsorship opportunities. The fundraiser aligns companies with the Barnes’s mission and supports a larger effort to provide special art and educational programming. To learn more about bespoke corporate sponsorship levels and benefits, contact efriesen@barnesfoundation.org.
Go Further
The Art of Display: Exploring the Barnes Ensembles
New Offering: Uncover connections hidden in plain sight by studying Dr. Barnes’s enigmatic displays of art at your own pace.
Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets
See the inventive works of Henri Rousseau in a new light.
Private Collection Tour
Explore highlights of the collection and learn the history of the Barnes. This tour is a private one-hour experience for you and up to nine guests.