The Artist as Philanthropist: The Rise of Private Foundations Created by Visual Artists
Private Foundations created by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Joan Mitchell, Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler are a new force in cultural philanthropy and artistic heritage stewardship. The Aspen Institute Artist-Endowed Foundations Initiative and The Clark Art Institute present a public panel discussion examining the factors that are shaping this important phenomenon.
AEFI’s National Study of Artist-Endowed Foundations, the first research effort to examine this small but fast-growing field, has documented more than 360 foundations, many created in the past two decades, holding $3.5 billion in assets, including $2 billion in artworks and intellectual property. These organizations make grants to nonprofits, artists and scholars. They steward art collections, operate study centers, conduct scholarship, contribute artwork to museums, manage artist residency facilities and administer art education programs. Some focus solely in the arts while others also address social issues, such as HIV/AIDS and the environment. In 2010, artist-endowed foundations expended $132 million for charitable purposes. The Study Report may be viewed online at www.aspeninstitute.org/aefi.
Panelists include:
- Christa Blatchford, CEO, the Joan Mitchell Foundation
- Elizabeth Smith, Executive Director, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation
- Nancy Mowll Mathews, Senior Curator Emerita, Williams College Museum of Art
- Stephen K. Urice, Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law
- Christine J. Vincent, Project Director, The Aspen Institute’s Artist-Endowed Foundations Initiative/AEFI
Jennifer Dowley, president of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, will moderate.
Support for these activities is provided by The Clark Art Institute and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Private Foundations created by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Joan Mitchell, Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler are a new force in cultural philanthropy and artistic heritage stewardship. The Aspen Institute Artist-Endowed Foundations Initiative and The Clark Art Institute present a public panel discussion examining the factors that are shaping this important phenomenon.