The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders on the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José, SJMA is the premier modern and contemporary art museum in Silicon Valley. Its dynamic program, which balances socially relevant traveling exhibitions with critically engaging shows drawn from a collection of more than 2700 works, resonates with defining characteristics of the city—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. Projects touch on timely topics from migration and identity to artificial intelligence and include significant original and touring exhibitions by both nationally and internationally acclaimed artists (Yolanda López; Rina Banerjee; Dinh Q. Lê) and emerging and under-recognized practitioners (Kelly Akashi; Woody De Othello; Sonya Rapoport). SJMA’s collection plan prioritizes community relevance and public access and places particular priority on acquiring works that reflect the cultural heritages and lived experiences of the community.  

SJMA supports its exhibition program with substantial arts education and outreach efforts, a strong commitment to community partnership, and a core commitment to nurturing a sense of belonging and welcome for all members of the racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse community. SJMA is the largest provider of in-school arts education in Santa Clara County and the first art museum experience for countless students in the South Bay. Following the collection plan, the Museum is committed to presenting artists of the global majority and women. SJMA minimizes barriers to access by offering weekend and evening hours, eliminating admission fees for students and teachers, and providing exhibition didactics in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese––San José’s official languages. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are integral top priorities of the Museum’s strategic plan, which aspires to be “borderless” and essential to creative life throughout Silicon Valley.