(New York, New York) – Today, the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) announced that it is a recipient of a $350,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. This transformative award will provide funding for thematic exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s expanding collection, as well as new staff positions.
“We are honored to be awarded this significant grant by one of the most respected philanthropic organizations in the United States,” said Jason T. Busch, Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO of AFAM. “With deep appreciation for the Henry Luce Foundation, we look forward to expanding upon the Museum’s inclusive approach to presenting its collection and developing its staff.”
Over the two-year grant period, through June 2024, AFAM will organize exhibitions drawn from its collection of over 7,500 works of art. Presentations will explore the collection through the lens of diversity, prioritizing for display of artworks that present an inclusive narrative of American art.
The exhibitions will be presented in the Daniel Cowin Gallery at the Museum’s location at 2 Lincoln Square in New York, which was originally established by Trustee Joyce Berger Cowin in memory of her husband, a Trustee, and champion of the Museum’s art collection for over two decades. A formal announcement about the content of the inaugural exhibition will be shared later this year.
About the American Folk Art Museum
Founded in 1961, the American Folk Art Museum engages people of all backgrounds through its collections, exhibitions, publications, and programs as the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
About the Henry Luce Foundation
The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to enrich public discourse by promoting innovative scholarship, cultivating new leaders, and fostering international understanding. A leader in art funding since 1982, the Luce Foundation’s American Art Program supports innovative museum projects nationwide that advance art-centered conversations that celebrate creativity, explore difference, and seek common ground. Learn more at www.hluce.org.