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Frequently Asked Questions

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Welcome to Marin Art and Garden Center

Marin Art and Garden Center is a an 11-acre historic property that is free and open to the public every day, year round from sunup to sundown. The Garden is  dedicated to enriching the local community through a celebration of community, the arts, and conservation.  We are a living tribute to the few dedicated, visionary women, who were instrumental in pioneering the conservation movement in this county nearly 80 years ago, led by Caroline Livermore.   

Marin Art and Garden is an independent non-profit organization and depends on the generosity of individuals to maintain our Gardens and provide engaging programs for the entire community.

Our Mission and Vision

Marin Art and Garden Center is a special gathering place that celebrates learning, growth, and the beauty of nature; a place that welcomes us all to be inspired, educated and entertained—or to just be.  

Our vision is to create a sense of pride and connection among all the people of Marin—and beyond—in this thriving, inclusive gathering place of inspiration, growth and celebration.  

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General questions about the Center

Are there admission fees to visit?

Entry to Marin Art and Garden Center is free and open to the public 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset.

What are your hours of operation?

The grounds of Marin Art and Garden Center are open to the public free of charge 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset. Our main office, located near the Rose Garden, is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, dogs are welcome on leash. Please clean up after your pet; waste bags are available near the main entry gate.

Is the antique shop still open?

Laurel House Antiques and Consignment closed in 2020 after more than 65 years at Marin Art and Garden Center. The shop space has been converted into a studio for our workshop partners and guests.

Can I volunteer at the Garden?

Yes, you can volunteer!  We welcome volunteers of all ages, including high school students (with a guardian’s permission).  To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please visit this page or contact volunteering@maringarden.org.

Do you have a lost and found?

Yes, if you’re looking for a lost or missing item, please visit our main office near the Rose Garden on weekdays from 9am-5pm or call 415-455-5260.

Program registration and your account 

How do I log in to my account?

First, click the Log In button at the top-left corner of this page. Then, enter your email and password. If you need to reset your password or are unsure if you have an existing account, click Forgot password? An email with a link to recover your account will be sent to your email.

To create a new account, click Create an account on this page and fill out your contact information. Then check your email for a message with a link to set up your password.

Why can't I log in?

To troubleshoot account login issues, please try the following: 

  • If you receive this error message, please click Forgot password? to send a reset password link to the email address associated with your account.  
  • If you are unsure whether you have an existing account, please click Forgot password? This will send a link to the email associated with your account to reset your password.  
  • If you do not have an existing account, you will not receive this email. Click Create an account to setup your account.  
  • Please contact our office at 415-455-5260 or info@maringarden.org for additional support logging in. 
Can I check if I registered for an upcoming program?

On our homepage in the top left corner, click “Login.” Then, enter your email associated with your Friends of the Garden membership and password. On this Dashboard, you can edit your contact information, see past and current events you have registered for, change your password, and sign up for upcoming programs.

How can I stay informed about upcoming events?

To stay updated on our programs, events, and exhibitions, you can:

Private events and venue rental

What spaces can I rent for a private event?

The Garden is home to several beautiful venues that are available to book for private events including the Livermore Pavilion, Gazebo Lawn, and Fountain Pond. Please see our Private Events page for more details.

How do I book venue space?

Marin Art and Garden Center hosts many kinds of private events, such as:

  • Weddings
  • Celebrations of life
  • Corporate and non-profit events
  • Small gatherings

Please visit our bookings page to schedule a tour and submit an inquiry for our events team.

Program partnership and exhibitions

Do you accept proposals for workshops or programs?

Yes, we offer many programs throughout the year in collaboration with our workshop leaders. Our grounds and gardens provide exciting possibilities for classes, lectures, workshops, and family activities that are open to the public.   

If you are interested in becoming a partner with us, please fill out this Program Partnership Proposal form. 

If you have already submitted an application, please allow 5-7 business days for a response.

What kind of art do you show in The Studio?

Our gallery space has hosted a wide range of exhibitions and featured fine artists working in a diverse range of media types including painting, sculpture, illustration, photography, design, and digital art. To see our catalog of past exhibitions, please see this page.

Can I show my work in The Studio?

Our grounds and gardens provide inspiration for several exhibitions each year that are open to the public. We aim to feature artwork that reflects our mission and vision and engages the wider community. The Studio is a large space and we welcome group submissions.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please include a bio of the artist, links to any of your work that is available online, and a description of how the work relates to our mission and vision. Proposals can be emailed to info@maringarden.org. 

The Garden School

Can I enroll my child at the Garden School?

Applications for children ages 2 through 5 for full- or part-time enrollment are accepted year-round and may be submitted at any time. Due to the size of the preschool, we cannot guarantee admission to any child but actively maintain a wait list. We encourage families to place their child on it as soon as possible.

Please complete this online application form using this link. We look forward to hearing from you!

How do I contact the Garden School?

Please reach out directly to gardenschool@maringarden.org for all inquiries.

Can I apply to enroll my child if we don't live in Marin?

Yes! Families who live outside the county are welcome to apply to the Garden School. You do not have to reside in Marin County to qualify as an applicant.

Does the Garden School offer financial support?

Yes. The Garden School offers financial aid to families in need of assistance through the Garden School Scholarship Fund. Please reach out to gardenschool@maringarden.org for more information.

Friends of the Garden

How can I support Marin Art and Garden Center?

There are a number of ways to support Marin Art and Garden Center including volunteering at events, attending fundraisers and donating.  Learn more by visiting our Friends of the Garden page.

Do you have a membership program?

The Garden is free and open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset, and all are welcome to visit.  If you’d like to become a supporter, we invite you to become a “Friend of the Garden,” which offers a variety of benefits at different donation levels, including great swag, program discounts and free tickets.  Learn more about all of our great benefits here.

I’m a Friend of the Garden, how do I get my exclusive items?

Visit our main office to pick up your eligible swag: car magnet, hat, water bottle, tote bag, and/or picnic blanket. Our office is open on weekdays from 9am-5pm.

How do I redeem discounts for programs & events?

desired program. See our Calendar page for an at-a-glance view of upcoming events. Once on the registration page, click the red Sign Up button. After, you will be prompted to login to your account. Once logged in, the program’s ticket price will automatically be displayed as the discounted Friends of the Garden price.

How long do memberships last?

Your membership begins on the date of your most recent donation to Friends of the Garden and is active for one year. You will receive an email offering to renew your membership one month before your membership end date.

Is there an eMembership card for Friends of the Garden?

Friends of the Garden membership cards are currently available only as a digital e-card through the Membership Anywhere app.

To download the Membership Anywhere app, select your desired device below to navigate to the Apple or Google Play app store:

Once the app is downloaded to your device, follow these steps to login to your Friends of the Garden account:

  1. Click to open the Membership Anywhere app.
  2. Type “Marin Art and Garden Center” into the search bar. Click on the corresponding result with our logo to continue.
  3. Then, enter your email associated with your Friends of the Garden membership and last name and click Find.
  4. On the next screen, click Download my cards.
  5. If you’re an Apple iPhone user, you can tap “Add to Wallet” at the top of this screen for easy access.

Navigating in the Membership Anywhere App

  • Show My Membership Cards
  • Card View: This page of the app displays your name, membership number, level, and membership expiration date, and barcode image to be used by participating gardens within the reciprocal American Horticultural Society network. Friends of the Garden memberships of all levels last one year with the option to renew at any time before the end date.
  • Simple View: Use this page to view your membership number, level, expiration date, and barcode image.
  • Add To Wallet: If you are an Apple iPhone user, there is also an option to add your digital e-card to your Apple Wallet for quick and easy access.
  • Membership Benefits
  • My Membership Benefits: This page shows you the benefits you’re eligible for at your membership level.
  • See All: This page shows you all Friends of the Garden membership levels and their corresponding benefits. Consider matching your donation (link to corporate matching question) to maximize your benefits and impact.
  • Reciprocal Benefits: This page will direct you to the American Horticultural Society’s website where you can browse the entire network of participating gardens.
How do I access my American Horticultural Society reciprocal benefits?

At the $100 level, Friends of the Garden receive a membership into the American Horticulture Society.  Through this membership, Friends of the Garden can gain admission to hundreds of other gardens nationwide, including San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Garden, and Japanese Tea Garden. To see a map of all participating gardens across the country, click here.

To access your AHS membership, simply show your membership e-card at one of the participating gardens. 

Download the eMembership Card app on your mobile device to view and access your digital e-card. See above for instructions on downloading your Friends of the Garden digital e-card.

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IRS Guidelines for Gifts from Donor Advised Funds to Support MAGC Events

Thank you for your interest in giving to the Marin Art & Garden Center events from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or Family Foundation.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support!

To ensure your gift follows the current IRS guidelines for DAF/Family Foundation support of an event, we would like to share the below guidelines with you.

  • Raffle tickets, tickets to galas and other special events, auction items, and benefits conferred in connection with a DAF/foundation grant are not permitted.
    • IRS has specifically ruled that fair market value associated with fundraising events cannot be separated, a practice known as “bifurcation.”
      • For example, with Edible Garden, if the price of the ticket is $200 and the FMV fair market value (non-tax-deductible amount) is designated to be $50, the donor must pay from sources other than her DAF/foundation for the full value of the ticket ($200) and not just for the non-tax-deductible amount ($50).
    • We recommend you confer with your financial advisor to confirm if any of these examples of how donors may still use their DAF to support an event would work for you:
      • A donor could sponsor the event, and not attend, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event using DAF/foundation funds and attend by purchasing an individual ticket through non-DAF/foundation funds.
      • A donor could sponsor the event, join the event as a guest of another donor/table guest, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event and host the afforded number of people at their chosen level as long as they pay for the seats at the lowest ticket price ($200 for Edible Garden) outside of their DAF.
        • As an example, a $1,500 sponsor that covers 2 guests, could pay for their sponsorship with $400 from a different source of funds, and then give an additional gift of $1,100 out of their DAF.

 

Please email Tod Thorpe, Director of Development at tod.thorpe@maringarden.org to discuss your gift to Marin Art and Garden Center