Phoenix’s beloved Heard Museum is heading toward its 100th birthday in beautiful style. The museum has launched “Walk in Beauty,” a $36 million centennial campaign that will reshape its campus, deepen its collections and carry its mission into the next century — and the public phase kicked off October 1, 2026.
Named for a Navajo prayer celebrating harmony and balance, the campaign dedicates $23 million to new campus features and accessibility improvements, $10 million to the endowment and $3 million to operating and capital reserves. A generous $5 million lead gift from David and “Weezie” Reese will fund a brand-new bespoke venue for the museum’s nationally recognized restaurant, while support from E.A. Michelson Philanthropy creates the Creativity Hub — an intergenerational learning space designed especially for older adults, with daily and weekly programs plus a welcoming Living Room for gathering.
A $1 million grant from The Steele Foundation will give visitors a more accessible, more beautiful arrival experience with new signage, seating, landscaping, lighting and outdoor sculptures. Best of all, the community is already behind the vision: 78% of the goal — $28 million — has been raised from 50 local and national foundations and individuals. The campus projects open to the public in January 2028, and the centennial celebration continues into December 2029 with “ORIGINAL PEOPLE: Indigenous Creativity in the American Southwest,” a 12,000-square-foot exhibition showcasing 400 years of Indigenous creativity from 40 tribal nations.
Photo: Heard Museum
