Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation funds programs which advance arts education in public, charter, and parochial schools in New York City, supports scholarly research in the arts, loans works of art to museums for special exhibitions, and awards art-related project grants to museums, libraries and universities 

IP TAKE: The foundation focuses on serving the five boroughs of New York City. Arts education is key here and priority is given to programs serving young people under age 18 and/or in grades PreK-12. 

PROFILE: The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation was established in 1995 by Maria-Gaetana von Spreti Matisse ("Tana" Matisse), wife of the late art dealer and collector, Pierre Matisse, the youngest child of the painter Henri Matisse. Tana left the bulk of her estate to the foundation when she passed in 2001. As a result, the most significant assets of the Foundation are the works from Tana and Pierre Matisse’s collection of art. The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation funds programs which advance arts education in public, charter, and parochial schools in New York City, supports scholarly research in the arts, loans works of art to museums for special exhibitions, and awards art-related project grants to museums, libraries and universities.

Grants for Arts and Culture, and Arts Education

The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation awards three types of grants: Grants for Arts and Arts Education, which are are awarded to organizations committed to making the arts a solid and significant part of the education process; Arts Education Schools Choose Grants, which help New York City public middle and high schools counter diminished funding for arts education programs; and Arts Education Impact Grants, awarded to organizations that help develop and implement arts education programs in New York City schools and communities.

Past grantees have included Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Lehman College Art Gallery, Park Avenue Armory, Symphony Space, and Young Audiences New York.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from $400 to $150,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $4.3 million.

The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation awards program-specific grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations serving the five boroughs of New York City. Priority is given to programs serving young people under age 18 and/or in grades PreK-12. The foundation does not fund individuals, nor does it fund an organization’s operating expenses. 

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