Bernice Fischer, arts patron

Sam Morris

Bernice Fischer once said she would never live in Las Vegas. She moved here in 1973 and praises the area’s cultural scene.

By Kristen Peterson (contact)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Name: Bernice Fischer, patron

Age: She celebrates her 90th birthday on Wednesday

Education: Bachelor of arts in language, Texas Women’s University in Denton

Getting to Vegas: Fischer first came through Las Vegas on her way to Zion National Park in 1964. She very authoritatively told her friend, “This is one town in which I’ll never live.” The bright sunlight and desert landscape were too much for Fischer, who was living in Montgomery, Ala., and working an education specialist for Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base.

She returned for good in 1973, newly married to Virlis Fischer, who was retired and living in Las Vegas. Though they traveled extensively and spent their summers in Incline Village, Vegas was home. “He wanted to show me the world and boy, he sure did. I think I traveled around the world twice.”

Supporting the arts: Born in Brownsville, Texas, Fischer had little exposure to the arts. While in college she attended her first important concert: Brazilian opera singer Bidu Sayao and Spanish pianist Jose Iturbi. After that, she says, “I started supporting the arts with a vengeance. I went after culture. I love the arts. I have absolutely no talent, but I believe in supporting the arts, all of them. They have to have an audience and so I am the audience. I encourage.”

On giving: There is a reason why Fischer’s portrait hangs in the lobby of UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre and why in 1995 she was awarded the Governor’s Arts Award for Service to the Arts. Fischer has helped fund concerts, programs and organizations large and small. She’s bought instruments for young music students, a concert grand piano for UNLV’s Beam Music Center, helped fund the university’s Charles Vanda Master Series and donated $85,000 to the Nevada School of the Arts so that it could purchase pianos for its new home. The Nevada Ballet Theatre, Nevada Chamber Symphony, Nevada Opera Theatre and Las Vegas Jazz Society have received support from Fischer. When Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV needed new seats, she was one of many patrons who stepped forward, funding all of row M.

“My parents taught me to be generous and giving,” she says.

On the arts: “The arts make a country civilized. Every child should be exposed to the arts because culture makes them whole. I do not pretend that I understand everything about music and painting, but it speaks to me.”

Philosophy: “Help as much as you can. Love people, warts and all, because we’re all different, but we’re all God’s children. If you have a good attitude, you own the world. I have never wished to be anything other than what I am, and I think that’s one of my greatest blessings. I’d like to tell young people to like themselves, be comfortable with themselves. Doors will open for them. Doors in their mind.”

Living in Vegas: “The climate is wonderful. The people are friendly. When you see it from the eyes of the community, the people are just like anyone else. The Strip is so far removed from us.”

Arts in Vegas: “The mix of culture is pretty darn good. Those who say we don’t have culture, send them to me. There are so many things going on, All you have to is go to them.”

Other interests: “People. I like people.” Fischer is a longtime member of the Mesquite Club, attends concerts and performances regularly, speaks fluent Spanish and has an extensive and eclectic collection of art in her home — portraits, still lifes, landscapes, abstract works.

She also has a treadmill: “It looks at me and I look at it.”

Sticking around? Yes