Gulf Coast Bonsai Foundaiton

Mission Statement

Establish a permanent repository for the preserving, studying, and improving the finest bonsai and to pass them from one generation to the next.  

Vision Statement 

Develop a world renowned bonsai exhibit and garden with a collection of bonsai to attract visitors from all over the world and have educational events to develop the commercial value of bonsai art and hobby.  Provide visitors with a better awareness, understanding, and appreciation of natural and improved environments.  Insure that bonsai specimen can be passed on from one generation to the next. 

Bonsai Exhibit Garden Objectives

Ÿ  A repository for bonsai that individuals would like to donate or lend to the collection.  This will provide a way to pass bonsai from one generation to the next.  The next generation must be trained to develop and care for bonsai.  The next generation must be educated to maintain bonsai as the bonsai is pasted on to them.

Ÿ  Educational and research structured to advance the science and art of bonsai.  A quality bonsai collection and educational programs that will attach visitors from all over the world.  The whole world is experimenting using different plant verities and techniques.  As understanding of bonsai is increased, more commercial opportunities will be developed.  This can increase tourism throughout the Gulf Coast Region. 

Ÿ  Public education to expand the hobby of bonsai.  Any art is good to expand culture.  Many arts are not fully understood.  But bonsai is unique in that you must have a minimum amount of skill to own it and enjoy it.  Many people buy a bonsai and it dies because they didn’t know how or have the time to take care of it.

Ÿ  Build the collection to 50 to 100 display quality specimens, with emphasis on quality.  This will enable many people to enjoy the art without taking the time they need to maintain their own bonsai.  This will require a full time curator, an assistant, bonsai volunteers, and many other gardening volunteers to maintain the collection and gardens.

Ÿ  Facilities, plant material, and organization to attract world renown bonsai teachers and artist.  Art is a good vehicle to communicate with other cultures.  Bonsai is an ancient world wide art which helps bridge cultures and generations.

Ÿ  Establish a relationship with other bonsai collections in the world to promote the art.  Bonsai specimen can be exchange to provide more diversity.  This would make the garden always changing.  Other public bonsai collection are found in many major metropolitan areas, such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angles, and Washington DC., and there is enough bonsai talent in Baton Rouge and the Gulf Coast Region to develop a find bonsai collection.