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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Babette Josephs |
  
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Pa. House adopts resolution honoring the life of Philadelphia museum director
HARRISBURG, June 24 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution last week honoring the life of Anne d’Harnoncourt, 64, after her unexpected death June 1.
Sponsored by state Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., H.R. 804 salutes d'Harnoncourt for her steadfast devotion to the advancement, enjoyment and educational impact of art and culture in the city of Philadelphia.
"Anne d'Harnoncourt was a well-respected civic leader and cultural advocate," Josephs said. "She enhanced the lives of Commonwealth citizens and visitors through the strength of her leadership and belief in the power of art."
d’Harnoncourt began her career as a curatorial assistant in 1967 at the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art. She relocated shortly after but returned to the Philadelphia museum in 1972.
In 1982, d’Harnoncourt became director of the museum, a position under which she pioneered its renovation following the opening of the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building last year. Some of the building’s featured collections are on display for the first time.
She organized and oversaw many world-renowned artists' exhibits such as Marcel Duchamp, Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh, generating an annual economic impact ranging from $210 million to $235 million.
Among her groundbreaking exhibitions was Pennsylvania's own Violet Oakley. Oakley served as an encouragement to women of the early 1900s after she became the first to receive the largest commission ever given to a woman. Thirteen of her murals can be seen in the Governor's Reception Room at the state Capitol.
A resident of Josephs’ district, d’Harnoncourt also dedicated herself to arts education through the museum's education programs which serve 85,000 visiting school children and 200,000 people of all ages who attend free after-school and artists-in-residence programs developed with Philadelphia public schools.
"Anne d'Harnoncourt selflessly dedicated herself to the power of education to change lives," Josephs said. "It is my honor to recognize in conjunction with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, her devotion to and her accomplishments within the city of Philadelphia."
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