The mission of the Euphrat Museum of Art is to research, produce, and present challenging exhibitions and educational materials that provide a resource of visual ideas and a platform for communication. The Euphrat structures itself as a forum of ideas about art. Exhibitions and publications highlight the rich heritage of different cultures and enhance the understanding of art, art history, social science, and other disciplines. The Euphrat crosses boundaries of cultures and academic disciplines and serves as a resource for the community and the college.

The Euphrat was established in 1971 as the Helen Euphrat Gallery by means of a memorial bequest by E.F. Euphrat in honor of Helen Euphrat, his wife. The Euphrats had owned and lived on the land on which De Anza College was built. When property tax funding was curtailed across the state in 1979, the Euphrat reevaluated its mission and programs. It developed a college/community partnership with an active board of educators, business people, and community leaders. The Euphrat began building a diverse financial base, assumed a leadership role in arts advocacy in Silicon Valley, and undertook an ambitious program of developing exhibitions, publications, and events.

At a 1993 ceremony bringing together officials from the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale, the Euphrat was renamed the Euphrat Museum of Art. Accomplishments include the publication of 12 books, obtaining funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts, and receiving various city and county awards.

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