The Museum welcomes, inspires, and educates a diverse regional audience through significant exhibitions, thought-provoking programs, and meaningful interactions with artists and the creative process.

[1][6] The museum held a successful $2 million funding drive to add a 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) outdoor gallery of sculptures.

The main focus of the permanent collection and exhibitions is on modern and contemporary artworks (painting, sculpture, prints, photographs, and other media) from the 20th and 21st centuries, Mesoamerican artifacts from Mexico and the Andes, and modern and folk art of Mexican origin.

The Permanent Collection includes works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Salvador Dalí, Diego Rivera, Robert Cremean,[8] Maynard Dixon, August Madrigal, Clement Renzi, Norman Rockwell, Varaz Samuelian, Andy Warhol, among others.

[11] Since the spring of 1988, the Fresno Art Museum's Council of 100 has honored the following internationally recognized artists with the annual Distinguished Woman Artist Award and Exhibition: The caliber of these honorees has elevated the status of the Council of 100's Distinguished Woman Artist Award and has brought the Fresno Art Museum national recognition from many organizations including the National Women's Museum in Washington, D.C.[11] In September 2012, the Fresno Unified School District became the tenth national test site for the John F. Kennedy Center's Any Given Child initiative.

The pilot program was first implemented in spring of 2013, allowing 1,348 third graders to tour the Museum and participate in specially designed curriculum.

There is a reception held near the end of the school year for the students and their families at the Museum to showcase the chosen artworks.