The etruscans: from the heart of ancient italy [etruscan culture flourished between the arno and tiber rivers in the area we know as tuscany from the ninth to second centuries BC

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded $100,000 to the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco) on January 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Public Programs (CFDA 45.164) to support development and presentation of "The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy," a temporary exhibition featuring approximately 200 objects on view at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco from May 2 through September 20, 2026.

The exhibition introduces Etruscan civilization flourished between the Arno and Tiber Rivers in Tuscany from the ninth to second centuries BC, drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries and current scholarship to demonstrate the Etruscans' significant influence on Western civilization's architectural, engineering, and artistic achievements. Place of performance is California. The period of performance extends from January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The award is classified as a Project Grant, an assistance type supporting projects that engage general audiences with humanities scholarship through in-person exhibitions and historic site interpretations.

The etruscans were a sophisticated and wealthy people who were major contributors to western civilization's most outstanding architectural, engineering, and artistic achievements, yet these great innovators only recently began to be discovered in the united states. A new exhibition, "the etruscans: from the heart of ancient italy", will introduce this sophisticated society based on the latest archaeological discoveries and the most up-to-date scholarship. On view at the legion of honor from may 2 through september 20, 2026, the exhibition will feature approximately 200 objects renowned for their beauty and craftsmanship. The objects reveal how the achievements of the etruscans significantly influenced western civilization, leaving a lasting legacy that still captivates US today.]