The Timken Museum of Art’s mission is to preserve the Putnam Collection of European and American art and Russian Icons for the education and benefit of present and future generations of San Diego residents and visitors. The Museum celebrates art as a way of enriching lives and nurturing the creative spirit in us all.

The Timken’s board and staff have further defined our mission through the following initiatives:
▪Free access for all visitors
▪Diverse educational opportunities for the public
▪Stewardship of the Putnam Foundation Collection
▪High quality care and conservation of the collections
▪Excellence in all museum endeavors

Our goals are to develop programs that make our internationally important collection and exhibitions accessible to all audiences, from first time visitors to art scholars. We evaluate and adjust programs to reflect visitors’ diversity and changing expectations of the museum experience.