HARDESTY FOUNDATION MAKES IMPACTFUL GIFT TO SUPPORT PHILBROOK GARDENS 

THE NEW AND IMPROVED GREAT LAWN WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY GATHERING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(TULSA, OK. November 6, 2025) — The Philbrook Gardens have been an integral part of the Museum’s offerings and the Tulsa cultural experience for the better part of a century. In particular, the lawn adjacent to the East Formal Garden has been a central spot for countless events, weddings, programs, picnics, and so much more. Since the early 1970s and the days of 16mm projectors to the current digital era, Films on the Lawn have been especially beloved. All of that love and use resulted in important updates and renovations needed to maintain the space for years to come. 

Thanks to the Hardesty Family Foundation’s generous gift of $1.2 million, improvements to the newly-christened Hardesty Great Lawn are well underway and scheduled to be completed by 2027 in time for the Philbrook centennial celebration (1927-2027).

“The Hardesty Family Foundation is proud to help bring new life to Philbrook’s Great Lawn,” says Executive Director Michelle Hardesty. “This revitalized space will provide more opportunities for families and friends to gather, learn, and celebrate the arts in a beautiful outdoor setting. Supporting places that strengthen community remains at the heart of our mission.” 

With the holiday season quickly approaching, the Hardesty Great Lawn will host thousands of guests during Philbrook Festival, a magical setting for making both art and memories together. 

“We are profoundly grateful to the Hardesty Family Foundation for helping make this beautiful and improved Great Lawn a reality,” says Philbrook President and CEO Megan Whittaker Nesbit. “Their investment means Tulsa families will have a place to come together to connect meaningfully through fun social programs and events year-round. Hardesty Family Foundation continues to make a positive impact across Tulsa and we’re proud to see that community-building spirit reflected right here at Philbrook.”

About Philbrook Museum of Art

Philbrook Museum of Art is committed to being Tulsa’s most welcoming and engaging cultural institution, providing a unique trifecta of experiences: a historic home, world class art museum, 25 acres of gardens. 

Philbrook Museum of Art opened on October 25, 1939. The addition of a 70,000 square foot wing in 1990 turned the historic home into a modern museum complex. A major garden renovation in 2004 cemented the Museum’s reputation as “the most beautiful place in Oklahoma.” 

Through bold action and strategic investment, we create a space for new ideas, diverse stories and perspectives, and social connection. The Philbrook Collection features more than 16,000 objects with a focus on American, Native American, and European art. Serving over 160,000 visitors annually, Philbrook shines a light on Tulsa’s storied and complex past while building a diverse and creative vision of the city’s future

Media Contact:

Jeff Martin
Director of Communications
Philbrook Museum of Art
918.748.5352
jmartin@philbrook.org