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About New Visions Gallery

History

In 2000, New Visions Gallery celebrated 25 years of service to the community. Below is a timeline from Canvas, the newsletter published by the gallery.

1964
The Marshfield Art Committee is formed to create an appreciation of the visual arts in Marshfield.

1970
A study committee of the Marshfield Art Committee receives a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Council to research what was being done to stimulate visual appreciation in sixteen museums, galleries and other settings. The study becomes the "New Visions Project" planned "to bring quality visual arts to as many North Central - Central Wisconsin viewers as possible, at the lowest possible cost, utilizing already existing facilities which have a large potential viewing audience."

1972
Marshfield Clinic outgrows its building on north Central Avenue and begins making plans for a new building on Oak Avenue. After much discussion, Marshfield Clinic agrees to donate space in its new building for a community gallery.

June 1975
New Visions Gallery files Articles of Incorporation and receives non-profit status.

August 16, 1975
The Gallery officially opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Susan Certos of Wisconsin Arts Board. The first exhibition is The American Artist and Water Reclamation on loan from the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service.

1979
The first Fun d'Arts Affaire is held. The wine and cheese tasting and art auction is the last event held in the old Central State Bank Building which is demolished to make way for a new building now housing M&I Bank. It is decided to make Fun d'Arts an annual event to be held at various locations.

1983
The Marshfield Art Committee dissolves and at the request of organizers, New Visions takes over the operation of the Marshfield Art Fair.

1984
With another addition to Marshfield Clinic, New Visions Gallery moves into a new and larger exhibition space.

1985
New Visions Gallery receives a Museum Assessment Grant from the Institute of Museum Services to review operations and governance. An annual giving campaign, recognizing donors of Art Partners is launched.

1986
The first Emerging Talents exhibit featuring the art of Marshfield students is organized by the gallery.

1987
The first Culture and Agriculture exhibit is mounted. This annual exhibit becomes New Visions' Culture and Agriculture and evolves into a national juried show with applications from all fifty states and Canada.

1988
The Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts and the State of Wisconsin recognize the leadership and generous contributions of Marshfield Clinic to the arts in the community and award the Clinic a Governor's Award for Support of the Arts.

1989
Marshfield Clinic again expands and New Visions moves into a new lockable space. This secure location enables New Visions to bring national high security exhibitions such as Visions of Flight on loan from the Smithsonian Institution to our area. A small Gallery Shop, a member of the Museum Store Association, is opened.

1991
Longtime friends of Marshfield Clinic and New Visions Gallery, Robert and Barbara Bromberg, begin making gifts from their fine art collection to the gallery. Many exhibits are organized from their excellent collection over the years. Works are loaned to other museums.

1993
New Visions receives Museum Assessment Grant for collection management from the Institute of Museum Services. After consultation with an expert funded through the grant, a collections accessions and record keeping system is established.

1995
Hands-on-Art activities become a regular part of exhibit openings.