The artist Joan Mitchell passed away in 1992. Recently, her Blueberry set an auction record for $16.625 million at Christie’s New York, while her work at Art Basel collectively sold for approximately $35.5 million. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Museum of … [Read more...] about Inside the Joan Mitchell Foundation: How a Visual Arts Funder Is Evolving
Getty Foundation
“Seeds of Inspiration.” The Walton Family Foundation’s Latest Push for More Diverse Museums
Last December, the Ford Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation joined forces to launch the $6 million Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative. As I noted at the time, the pairing may have appeared somewhat peculiar to followers of each … [Read more...] about “Seeds of Inspiration.” The Walton Family Foundation’s Latest Push for More Diverse Museums
Growing Influence: A New Art Prize Finds Collectors Ramping Up Their Giving
After Agnes Gund launched the $100 million Art for Justice Fund with the proceeds from the sale of Roy Lichtenstein's "Masterpiece," I wondered if collectors represented the sleeping giants of arts philanthropy. The prognosis thus far seems … [Read more...] about Growing Influence: A New Art Prize Finds Collectors Ramping Up Their Giving
Never Mind Those Stingy Techies. These Funders Keep Giving for “Highbrow” Arts
There's a glum narrative about arts fundraising that suggests that younger new donors, especially from tech, aren't interested in giving to the arts; that legacy foundations are ever less interested in funding the arts, except to advance social … [Read more...] about Never Mind Those Stingy Techies. These Funders Keep Giving for “Highbrow” Arts
Mind the App: A Museum Funder Doubles Down on Digital Expertise
The takeaway from a recent article in the New York Times by Steve Lohr may not surprise any worker who has tried to make sense of a new and confusing piece of software: While businesses are spending more on technology than ever before, productivity … [Read more...] about Mind the App: A Museum Funder Doubles Down on Digital Expertise
“Without Shackles.” Behind an Exceedingly Rare Unrestricted Museum Mega-Gift
It's no secret that the large majority of grants that flow from foundations are for restricted project support. Many gifts from big individual donors also go to support very specific things, like a new hospital wing or university research center. … [Read more...] about “Without Shackles.” Behind an Exceedingly Rare Unrestricted Museum Mega-Gift
A Newcomer with a Famous Name Steps Up for HIV/AIDS Funding in the American South
Nearly a year ago, we covered a promising collaboration between the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) to support LGBTQ organizations and specifically HIV/AIDS efforts in the American South. This was big … [Read more...] about A Newcomer with a Famous Name Steps Up for HIV/AIDS Funding in the American South
Thoma: Meet an Art-Collecting Couple Committed to Visual Arts
I've written before about the philanthropy of Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana. Rauner, a private equity veteran and former chairman of Chicago-based GTCR, is currently the governor of Illinois. The Rauners are strongly interested in education … [Read more...] about Thoma: Meet an Art-Collecting Couple Committed to Visual Arts
Overlooked No More: A Foundation’s Push to Elevate Chicago Art
New York has long been considered the center of American visual art, home to the Met, the MoMA, and the incredible, cylindrical viewing galleries of the Guggenheim. Abstract Expressionism developed in the city, as did the careers of its luminaries … [Read more...] about Overlooked No More: A Foundation’s Push to Elevate Chicago Art
The Future Is Now: Behind the Surge In Los Angeles Arts Philanthropy
On the heels of his recent $150 million gift to the Los Angeles County Museums of Art (LACMA), David Geffen told the Los Angeles Times, "Los Angeles is the city of the future."He wasn't lying. And, in part, that future is being fueled by a rising … [Read more...] about The Future Is Now: Behind the Surge In Los Angeles Arts Philanthropy
The Tech Donors Backing the De-Extinction Movement
Even just five years ago, you’d have been forgiven for thinking an effort to resurrect woolly mammoths was a lark, perhaps a high-concept art project. Increasingly, however, lumbering megafauna and revived flocks of passenger pigeons have become … [Read more...] about The Tech Donors Backing the De-Extinction Movement
The Best and Worst of Times: On the Mixed Fortunes of Regional Art Museums
Scan IP's 2017 coverage in the visual arts space and you'll likely conclude that it was a good year for regional art museums. Donors remained leery of funding risky capital projects at mega-institutions, often to the benefit of the little guy. When … [Read more...] about The Best and Worst of Times: On the Mixed Fortunes of Regional Art Museums
Skills for Success: Why a Funder is Focused on Developing Business-Savvy Artists
Any number of foundations provide grants and fellowships to individual artists. These are nearly always for a finite period of time, usually for a year, and they're greatly appreciated. But such awards rarely solve the ongoing challenge that artists … [Read more...] about Skills for Success: Why a Funder is Focused on Developing Business-Savvy Artists
Strange Bedfellows? Ford and Walton Join Forces on Arts Diversity
When the Ford Foundation recently announced it was committing $3 million over three years to "support creative solutions" to diversify curatorial and management staff at art museums across the United States, I wasn't surprised. That sounds like just … [Read more...] about Strange Bedfellows? Ford and Walton Join Forces on Arts Diversity
Big Gifts, Big Problems: Takeaways From Capital Project Hell at Lincoln Center
Over two years after receiving a $100 million infusion from David Geffen, the Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic's half-billion-dollar plan for a gut renovation of David Geffen Hall is going back to the drawing board."There was a general … [Read more...] about Big Gifts, Big Problems: Takeaways From Capital Project Hell at Lincoln Center
A Spectrum of Change: Why Is An Art Foundation Tackling Mass Incarceration?
In late September, the New York City-based Robert Rauschenberg Foundation tapped Kathy Halbreich, who currently serves as Associate Director of the Museum of Modern Art, as its new executive director.Halbreich "brings to the foundation more than 30 … [Read more...] about A Spectrum of Change: Why Is An Art Foundation Tackling Mass Incarceration?
Black Swan Event: Why Did a Tech Billionaire Defy the Odds and Give Big to a Museum?
The "black swan theory" is a metaphor that "describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight." Black swan events include the sinking of the … [Read more...] about Black Swan Event: Why Did a Tech Billionaire Defy the Odds and Give Big to a Museum?
Fire Sale: A Museum Plans to Auction Off Prized Works. How Will Donors Respond?
News out of Massachusetts points to two salient questions in a cutthroat visual art space where museums struggle to stay afloat.First, when is it OK for a museum to sell its holdings to shore up its finances or fund renovations? And second, will … [Read more...] about Fire Sale: A Museum Plans to Auction Off Prized Works. How Will Donors Respond?
Disruption 101: An Influential Funder Sizes Up the State of Museum Tech
While Bloomberg Philanthropies remains the biggest funder of tech innovation by museums, the Knight Foundation is another key player in this niche. Last spring, we wrote about Knight's $1.87 million initiative to help 12 museums better use technology … [Read more...] about Disruption 101: An Influential Funder Sizes Up the State of Museum Tech
Donating Art Can Be a Major Hassle. For Some Museums, This is Good News
Earlier this year, I looked at some of the drivers behind the surge in single-donor private museums. A collector wants to be absolutely sure the public sees his work. A collector believes there's a glaring void in the region's arts ecosystem. Or … [Read more...] about Donating Art Can Be a Major Hassle. For Some Museums, This is Good News
Big Fish, Big Pond: A Look at Some Recent Annenberg Arts Grantmaking
This summer, I've come across two interesting items in the visual arts space, both involving the Annenberg Foundation. The first found Annenberg awarding $300,000 last month to a Seattle-based arts nonprofit called Amplifier to launch an art-driven … [Read more...] about Big Fish, Big Pond: A Look at Some Recent Annenberg Arts Grantmaking
Darkness Grows: Time for a New Conversation About Philanthropy and Transparency
One step forward, one step back. That’s the story when it comes to philanthropy and transparency in recent times. You could even argue that we’ve taken two steps back lately, amid the rise of big, new opaque foundations, the spread of donor-advised … [Read more...] about Darkness Grows: Time for a New Conversation About Philanthropy and Transparency
Missing Patrons: Will More Major Donors Give for Art and Social Justice?
The idea that the arts can drive social change is perhaps the hottest trend in arts philanthropy at the moment. But a closer look at these kinds of gifts reveals an interesting nuance. Most of these come from institutional funders.The list is long … [Read more...] about Missing Patrons: Will More Major Donors Give for Art and Social Justice?
New Funding Behind a Long Push for Gender Equity in the Visual Arts
Concern among arts funders about equity and social justice issues have been rising lately, but are hardly new. Some donors have focused on systematic disparities for decades.Consider the following quote from California business professional and arts … [Read more...] about New Funding Behind a Long Push for Gender Equity in the Visual Arts
What’s Happening with Arts Philanthropy Right Now? An Innovative Funder Takes Stock
The Boston-based VIA Art Fund recently awarded grants totaling $310,000 during the first half of 2017 for contemporary visual arts projects, directly supporting over 50 artists, writers and curators, and nine visual arts organizations and … [Read more...] about What’s Happening with Arts Philanthropy Right Now? An Innovative Funder Takes Stock
Polish Connection: How UC Berkeley Landed a Big Arts Collection From a Reliable Funder
Giving Pledge signatory Tad Taube is profiled on our Jewish Funders guide, and runs a robust philanthropic operation that supports Jewish causes in the United States, Israel and Poland. The Polish-born real estate mogul has always kept his homeland … [Read more...] about Polish Connection: How UC Berkeley Landed a Big Arts Collection From a Reliable Funder
“Immeasurably Important.” A Historic Gift Earmarked for the Booming Field of Asian Art
Bloomington, Indiana. Tuscon, Arizona. Nashville, Tennessee. The list of small American cities housing museums receiving large and transformative art gifts continues to grow. Let us now add Cincinnati to the list.In May, Cincinnati Art Museum has … [Read more...] about “Immeasurably Important.” A Historic Gift Earmarked for the Booming Field of Asian Art
Surprising? Not Really. A Look at That Big Gift to MoMA
Every now and then, we come across a gift in the arts philanthropy space that can be sincerely considered a surprise. Los Angeles financier Jeffrey Gundlach's $42.5 million gift to Buffalo's Albright-Knox Art Gallery? Total surprise. Gundlach had not … [Read more...] about Surprising? Not Really. A Look at That Big Gift to MoMA
Inspired by Success: Why These Funders Are Bankrolling a City-Centric Art Exhibition
Guided by the "ROI mindset," arts funders are increasingly drawn to programs that boost engagement, speak to pressing social concerns, and create a more immersive art experience. So when a program based on the West Coast seemingly cracks the code, … [Read more...] about Inspired by Success: Why These Funders Are Bankrolling a City-Centric Art Exhibition
An Endowment Gift to Support Top Visual Arts Scholars
Recently, Inside Philanthropy published a post that looked at the recruitment frenzy sweeping the higher education art space—and the role deep-pocketed campus donors often play here. Recent news suggests that this trend isn't limited to university … [Read more...] about An Endowment Gift to Support Top Visual Arts Scholars
