MILWAUKEE—On June 21, 2023 the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University will present the Kairos Award to Jan Serr and John Shannon, and the Patricia B. Apple Award to Claire Boles and Donna Farrell during a dinner ceremony held at the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin. This biennial event is chaired by Friends of the Haggerty Museum of Art Board Treasurer Carrie Matteson. Individual tickets start at $175, eight-person tables and sponsorships are also available.
About the Awards
The Kairos Award recognizes exceptional achievements in the arts—including the advancement of the arts—through activities at Marquette University and beyond. The Greek word “kairos,” which means “the creative moment in time,” has been chosen to symbolize the spirit of this award. The Patricia B. Apple Award recognizes individuals whose service has made a lasting impact on the Friends of the Haggerty Museum of Art. The award is named for Patricia B. Apple, chair of the fundraising campaign to build the Haggerty Museum of Art and inaugural president of Marquette University’s Women’s Council.
About the Recipients
Kairos Award recipients Jan Serr and John Shannon embody the spirit of the award through their exemplary contributions to Milwaukee’s arts community. Last year’s extraordinary Kentridge Arts Fest organized by Serr and Shannon engaged arts organizations throughout the city in an interdisciplinary exploration of William Kentridge’s work. The Warehouse Art Museum, founded by Serr and Shannon to share their remarkable art collection, presented thoughtful exhibitions while Guardian Fine Art Services–also founded by the couple–provided museum-quality art storage and handling for both public and private collections. Serr and Shannon support a wide range of Milwaukee arts groups including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Ballet, The Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Film, and Present Music. In 2016 the couple gave a major gift to the UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts to help the university open the Jan Serr Studio, a venue that is used for used for art exhibitions, performances and event rentals. Jan Serr is also an accomplished artist whose work is included in over forty public collections including the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Haggerty Museum of Art.
Patricia B. Apple Award recipients and Marquette alumnae Claire Boles and Donna Farrell have formed a lasting friendship through their service to the Haggerty Museum of Art and have immeasurably advanced the mission of the Museum. Long-time Friends of the Haggerty Museum of Art board members, their collective achievements include expertly co-chairing the Haggerty’s Fall Gala Committees in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and co-chairing the Museum’s Fall Gala in 2016 and its Fall Dinner in 2022. They remain committed to the Haggerty Museum of Art and consistently provide critically important advocacy for the Museum throughout the Marquette University and Milwaukee communities.
Proceeds from the Haggerty Awards Dinner support the Haggerty Museum of Art Fund. The purpose of the Haggerty Museum of Art Fund is to provide support for the Haggerty Museum of Art. The Fund, to be held and administered at the discretion of the Director of the Haggerty Museum of Art subject to University policies and procedures, will be used for the operation of the Museum including exhibitions, academic and community engagement, collection care, and administration.
About the Haggerty Museum of Art
The Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University is an innovative nexus of interdisciplinary learning where creativity, intellect and social justice intersect. Located in the heart of the Near West Side, adjacent to downtown Milwaukee, and open daily, the Museum is one of the most accessible arts venues in the city.
