What is the future of Napa County\u2019s di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art?<\/p>\n
The di Rosa campus, located at 5200 Sonoma Highway (Highway 12\/121) in Carneros, has less than $500,000 left of its former $5 million endowment, according to new board leadership.<\/p>\n
Longtime supporters claim that the art center faces more than $700,000 in deferred maintenance, while debate continues over a new di Rosa gallery in San Francisco and the possible sale of part, or all, of the Napa property.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe organization has been struggling financially for 30 years,\u201d di Rosa’s executive director Kate Eilertsen acknowledged in an interview with the Napa Valley Register. \u201cRene di Rosa did not leave a large enough endowment to take care of 217 acres and a collection valued at $12 million and six or seven buildings.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, since its existence in 1997, it has run a deficit\u201d every year, she said, except for one year when a previous executive director sold part of the collection.<\/p>\n
Public tax filings show the organization\u2019s financial pressure has deepened in recent years. According to ProPublica\u2019s summary of di Rosa\u2019s Form 990 filings, the nonprofit reported negative net income each year from 2019 through 2024. Its net assets fell from $44,361 in 2019 to minus-$2.49 million in 2024. A 2025 annual financial report has not yet been made public.<\/p>\n
According to the di Rosa board’s treasurer Gordon Huether, the organization’s endowment has shrunk sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive years ago, the museum had a large endowment that unfortunately was allowed to dwindle to less than $500,000 this year,\u201d he wrote. \u201cSimply put, the museum has not been matching its expenses to its income, nor prioritizing the programs it is supporting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those difficulties have led to a debate after the entire 217-acre Carneros property was listed for sale earlier this year, alarming artists, donors, former volunteers and longtime supporters.<\/p>\n
The listing price was $10.9 million \u2014 not including the art collection.<\/p>\n
Together, the financial pressures have raised a larger question: Can di Rosa maintain its Carneros campus, preserve a major Northern California art collection and survive financially?<\/p>\n
The di Rosa legacy<\/p>\n
Supporters, board members and former leaders all seem to agree on one thing \u2014 the di Rosa is struggling financially. Where they disagree is on how best to protect it.<\/p>\n
Originally named the di Rosa Art and Nature Preserve Napa, the campus was created by art collectors Rene and Veronica di Rosa and opened to the public in 1997. Over many years, they assembled a collection focused on Northern California artists and transformed their Carneros property into a destination that incorporated both art and nature. Rene and Veronica di Rosa have both since died, Veronica in 1993 and Rene in 2010.<\/p>\n
di Rosa grew to include 217 acres, multiple buildings, outdoor art installations and a collection valued at about $12 million, according to museum officials.<\/p>\n
Many supporters see that combination of art and preserved open space as the heart of the organization. A group of longtime supporters, artists, former volunteers and former board members has formed Friends of the di Rosa Preserve.<\/p>\n
The group became active after learning earlier this year that the property had been listed for sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the Preserve to stay in Napa \u2026 as Rene wanted,\u201d said Friends member Diane Shepp in a phone interview.<\/p>\n
The January property listing included the real estate of the di Rosa, but not the art collection itself. Still, the move alarmed many longtime supporters.<\/p>\n
The Friends group said it became concerned about whether the Napa County campus could be sold, what would happen to the art collection, and why the organization was expanding into San Francisco when the Napa site needed repairs.<\/p>\n
The group also worries about large outdoor artworks and site-specific installations that may not be easy to relocate if major changes are made to the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeparating the collection from the land undermines the very foundation of what di Rosa was created to be,\u201d the group said in a news release.<\/p>\n
A tough time for arts groups everywhere<\/p>\n
The most recent di Rosa board president, Christopher Barefoot, pointed to the difficult climate for arts organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, like many fine arts institutions, continues to struggle in our current socio-political environment,\u201d he wrote in an email on June 17.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Barefoot, di Rosa \u201cneeds and deserves the support of Bay Area art enthusiasts, especially from Napa and Sonoma, to preserve such a rare collection of Northern California artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those challenges have become more daunting in recent years.<\/p>\n
Arts organizations across California and the nation continue to face rising costs, changing donor habits and reduced government support. Several museums, galleries and arts organizations in the Bay Area have downsized, merged or closed, explained supporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cBay Area arts organizations and museums are really struggling right now,\u201d Eilertsen said in a phone interview.<\/p>\n
Friends of the di Rosa members agree that the problems facing the organization are not unique. \u201cThe funding pool for the arts is shrinking,\u201d acknowledged Friends member Norma Quintana by phone.<\/p>\n
Shepp said many arts groups are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and need broader support from multiple funding sources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve got to stop looking at it how we used to do it,\u201d Shepp said in a phone interview. \u201cWe have to dig out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the more debated decisions was the opening of a satellite di Rosa gallery in San Francisco.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the move say it was designed to help save the Napa County campus.<\/p>\n
Eilertsen said the second campus allowed the organization to convert some Napa exhibition space into event rental space while still presenting art exhibitions. She said di Rosa rental revenue increased from $31,000 in 2025 to $131,000 in 2026.<\/p>\n
The San Francisco location, which opened at 1150 25th St. in August 2025, helped introduce the collection to new audiences and donors, according to Eilertsen. It generated donations, admission fees and event revenue.<\/p>\n
According to figures provided by Eilertsen, the San Francisco gallery attracted 6,852 visitors from August 2025 through May 2026, compared with 5,776 visitors at the Napa campus during the same period.<\/p>\n
Board member Marta Thoma Hall supported the expansion into San Francisco, saying the second gallery was meant to increase visibility while helping support the Napa County campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cKate thought there would be more donors and attract more members if we had the San Francisco satellite,\u201d Thoma Hall told the Napa Valley Register by phone.<\/p>\n
Supporters and critics of the San Francisco expansion disagree on how successful the satellite location has been.<\/p>\n
Eilertsen and current board leadership weren\u2019t able to confirm or agree on attendance numbers, revenue and operating expenses. Eilertsen referred other questions to the di Rosa board.<\/p>\n
Huether said due to a staff member who was unavailable, he was unable to immediately provide additional financial information for this story.<\/p>\n
Friends of the di Rosa members said the organization should focus on maintaining the Napa campus first.<\/p>\n
The group claims the Napa campus has more than $700,000 in deferred maintenance needs, including roof repairs. Shepp wondered why di Rosa should open a San Francisco campus when the Napa one faces high expenses.<\/p>\n
Tom Thornley, another di Rosa Friend, was more direct.<\/p>\n
\u201cSan Francisco was clearly a bad decision,\u201d he said in a phone interview. Thornley, whose former business, Andrews and Thornley Inc., built much of the di Rosa, said he\u2019d like to help \u201creinvent\u201d the di Rosa \u201cas it was intended to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
New board leadership has also raised concerns about the financial impact of the San Francisco gallery.<\/p>\n
Huether, who recently joined the board, said the organization’s financial records show \u201congoing expenses\u201d connected to the San Francisco location.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe San Francisco Gallery is an example of the significant financial pressures the di Rosa museum is facing,\u201d Huether wrote in an email. \u201cRegardless of how attractive it is to showcase di Rosa in San Francisco, it costs more than we can afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenges were identified earlier this year when \u201ca number of board members started raising deep concerns about the organization\u2019s financials,\u201d Huether explained.<\/p>\n
Those concerns eventually led to changes in board leadership, including Barefoot leaving his position as president on June 4.<\/p>\n
Huether said new leadership is now working to stabilize the organization and develop a plan for its future.<\/p>\n
The board remains committed to keeping the museum operating in Napa County, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Napa site has to be prioritized and protected in line with the wishes of Rene and Veronica di Rosa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at it through the lens of: \u2018What would Rene do?\u2019\u201d Huether said. \u201cIf he were in this situation, I know that he would support selling that upper parcel (in Napa County).\u201d<\/p>\n
According to di Rosa’s director Eilertsen, the lower parcel in Napa County, where the art collection is housed, was removed from the market on May 1, but she did not give a reason for the listing change.<\/p>\n
Could a new owner take the helm?<\/p>\n
Discussions continue, however, regarding the 164-acre upper parcel, known as Milliken Peak. According to Chris Cahill, general manager of the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, the Milliken Peak property is mostly undeveloped, with two barns, grazing cattle, some rock walls and a few outdoor art installations.<\/p>\n
Huether said the organization is negotiating with the Open Space District and the Land Trust of Napa County about a possible purchase of the upper acreage. Under the concept being discussed, the land would remain protected and become a public recreation area with hiking trails.<\/p>\n
The ultimate owner and operator would be the Open Space District, according to Cahill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re hoping to achieve the permanent preservation of Milliken Peak and the construction of a new hiking trail connecting the existing DiRosa parking lot to the peak,\u201d wrote Cahill. The peak, he continued, also hosts several outdoor art installations \u201cthat have traditionally been difficult for di Rosa visitors to see up close.<\/p>\n
“(The Open Space District) and di Rosa are hoping to keep the art in place, giving park visitors the opportunity to hike a new trail to the summit and enjoy nature, sweeping views, and art all at once,\u201d Cahill wrote. \u201cIt would also help the di Rosa foundation endow the operation of their existing museum, keeping it open to the public at its current location.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because the purchase is still being negotiated, Cahill said, he could not provide the purchase price.<\/p>\n
Huether acknowledged that such a sale would be \u201ca major positive move in the right direction.\u201d However, long-term financial challenges at di Rosa remain.<\/p>\n
In addition to Huether, there are three other board members: interim president Neal Harrison, Marta Thoma Hall and Madeline Rose.<\/p>\n
However, as of June 26, Harrison will step down as president \u201cto devote his time as an advisor on the Land Trust deal,\u201d wrote Huether on June 22. Huether will become interim president. Huether said more board members are expected to be elected in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Harrison could not be reached to comment for this story.<\/p>\n
The proposed sale of the upper parcel is one area where board members and many Friends supporters appear to agree. Both sides have expressed support for preserving the land while creating public access.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the di Rosa is the most important postwar art collection in Northern California,\u201d Thoma Hall said in a phone interview.<\/p>\n
Members of Friends of the di Rosa say they are trying to protect the organization, not attack it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to make things worse,\u201d said Friends member Harris Nussbaum in a phone interview. \u201cWe’re trying to save what wonderful thing we had.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group has launched a petition called Preserve the Preserve and said that more than 388 people have signed it. They hope the attention will encourage more people to become involved and support the institution financially.<\/p>\n
Huether wrote in a June 18 text message to the Register that the di Rosa board is working on a short-term plan to stabilize finances and secure the museum\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe board is committed to ensuring di Rosa remains a vital cultural resource for artists, visitors, supporters, and the broader Bay Area community,\u201d he wrote. Members \u201care working carefully and urgently to put di Rosa on firm footing for an exciting future.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the property piece of the di Rosa puzzle continues to be sorted, the question remains as how a unique cultural institution can be preserved while adapting to economic realities that have challenged arts organizations across the U.S.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about what we value in Napa,\u201d Quintana said in a phone interview, \u201cwhich is to keep this very important place (going).\u201d<\/p>\n
Several Friends said the preserve is not just an art site, but a part of Napa\u2019s identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get rid of such history would be a crime,\u201d said Nussbaum.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legacy that they created for our community, the value to Napa County itself, is something that is not to be pooh-poohed or put to the side,\u201d said Shepp. \u201cIt would be a real tragedy if we lost (it).\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What is the future of Napa County\u2019s di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art? The di Rosa campus, located…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":723596,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[1029,228,226,227,311242,2356,229,311243,311241,88,311245,311244,311246,38730,10835],"class_list":["post-723595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-art","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-barefoot","tag-california","tag-design","tag-di-rosa","tag-di-rosa-center-for-contemporary-art","tag-entertainment","tag-financial-endowment","tag-gordon-huether","tag-los-carneros-ava","tag-museum","tag-napa-county"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=723595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/723596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=723595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=723595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=723595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}