About
Established in 2013, the ICAA Ideas Council is a patron group and global think tank that fosters dialogue and stimulates creative partnerships that benefit artists and cultural institutions throughout Latin America and the United States. Ideas Council membership dues support the operations and activities of the ICAA.
The Council brings together art advocates, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders with representatives from the government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Through annual conferences, focused conversations, and special workshops, the group analyzes critical issues affecting the visual arts and facilitates international alliances between individuals, foundations, and public-sector entities. It also seeks strategic partnerships with global leaders and individuals with the vision and resources to make a significant impact.
Council members receive exclusive benefits, including access to invitation-only events such as conversations organized during Art Basel Miami as well as the Council’s international conference held annually in different cities throughout Latin America and the United States.
If you are interested in joining the ICAA Ideas Council, please contact MFAH Development Officer for Curatorial Affairs, Ashley Powell: apowell@mfah.org or 713-639-7594.
Current Council Members:
Mrs. Surpik Angelini
Mr. and Mrs. José Luis Barragán
Celia Sredni de Birbragher
Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig
Leslie and Brad Bucher
Dr. and Mrs. Luis T. Campos
Ella Fontanals-Cisneros
Betty and Brack Duker
Alfred C. Glassell, III
Mrs. Diane M. Halle
Mrs. Olive McCollum Jenney
Linda and George B. Kelly
Kirby Liu
Darlene M. Boytall and Jorge M. Pérez
Marilynn and Carl Thoma
Juan Yarur
Corporate and Institutional Sponsors:
Amerant (formerly Banco Mercantil)
The Getty Foundation
Phillips
Sotheby’s Fine Art Auctions
Terra Foundation for American Art
The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
Events
Upcoming Ideas Council Conferences
Making, Sustaining, and Exhibiting Art in Buenos Aires, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) and Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires, organized in conjunction with ArteBA. Postponed until further notice.
Past Ideas Council Conferences
New Trends in Art Collecting in Latin America, April 8–10, 2019, Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), organized in conjunction with SP—Arte fair
Beyond Institutions: New Models of Artistic Interaction in Latin America, March 4–5, 2018, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Public Sector and the Visual Arts in Latin America: Re-Framing the Issues for the 21st Century, March 13–14, 2016, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Between Private Passions and Public Responsibility: Building 21st-Century Alliances, March 8–10, 2015, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Past Ideas Council Conversations
The Latinx Factor: Issues and Challenges for Artists, Institutions and Collectors, December 4, 2019, Espacio 23, organized in partnership with the Ford Foundation in conjunction with Art Basel-Miami and hosted by Jorge Pérez.
Monetizing Art Collections: Pros and Cons, December 5, 2018, co-organized with Jorge Pérez in conjunction with Art Basel-Miami
The Future of Private Collections, Part II: A View from the Americas, November 30, 2016, co-organized with CIFO (Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation) in conjunction Art Basel-Miami
Building a Legacy: The Future of Private Collections, December 2, 2015, co-organized with CIFO (Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation) in conjunction with Art Basel-Miami
