A Little Bit About Us…

The Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin connects people with art by engaging our community through exhibitions, education, collections and outreach.

Our History

The Ellen Noël Art Museum was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1977. After several years of careful planning, we officially opened our doors in 1985 as the Art Institute for the Permian Basin. We are proud to be the product of grass roots fund raising by the citizens of the Permian Basin.

In 1996—ten years after opening—we were renamed after the great Ellen W. Noël, to honor her for her leadership and philanthropy.

Along the path of the Ellen Noël Art Museum’s rich history, it has since collected several accolades of distinction. In 2005, ENAM was accredited by the American Association of Museums and has enjoyed the benefits of this partnership ever since. Later in 2010, ENAM procured placement in the Smithsonian Affiliates Program—one of very few art museums in the State of Texas granted this high status. This designation gives the Museum greater access to distinguished educational resources, libraries, research centers, and millions of artifacts in its renowned collection of 47 museums.

Board of Directors