Artur Walther

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Goldman Sachs

FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture

OVERVIEW: After retiring from Goldman Sachs, Artur Walther pursued his interests in architecture, design, and photography and studied at the International Center of Photography. He established the Walther Collection in Germany and New York and supports arts institutions through his Walther Family Foundation. According to available tax filings, the foundation awarded $247,000 in grants between 2017 and 2018.

BACKGROUND:  Born in Germany, Artur Walther attended  University of Regensburg and then Harvard Business School before going to work on Wall Street. He joined Goldman Sachs, where he made partner before retiring in the 1990s.

ISSUES:

ARTS AND CULTURE: Walther left Goldman Sachs in 1994 and since that time has followed his passion for the arts. Walther has been collecting African photography for some two decades, amassing what may be the world’s largest collection in the field. He opened his museum, The Walther Collection, in Germany in 2010 and the New York project space in 2011. The collection has featured the works of artists like Zhang Dali, Malick Sidibé, and Zhang Huan.

Walther has recently directed grants to The Museum of Modern Art, Storefront for Art and Architecture, The Met, and Vassar College – The Photography Council. The foundation’s grantmaking also supports outfits abroad in Germany. 

LOOKING FORWARD: It is unclear how much money Walther has waiting in the wings, but expect him to remain strongly focused on the arts.

CONTACT:

The Walther Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact, below is an address and phone:

Walther Family Foundation
77 Water St., 9th Fl.
New York City, NY 10005
Telephone: (212) 440-0800

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