American Federation of Arts

American Federation of Arts. Founded in 1909, it is one of the oldest and most influential non-profit organizations in the United States dedicated to creating and touring art exhibitions. Established by prominent figures including Elihu Root, J. P. Morgan, and Robert de Forest, its mission has long been to broaden public access to significant works of art. The organization collaborates extensively with museums, cultural institutions, and philanthropic foundations worldwide to develop a diverse array of traveling exhibitions.

History

The organization was incorporated in 1909 following advocacy from the American Association of Museums, with early leadership deeply connected to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the burgeoning American art market. Its inaugural exhibition, held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., featured works from the collection of John Gellatly. Throughout the 20th century, it played a pivotal role in cultural diplomacy, especially during the Cold War, by circulating exhibitions that showcased American art abroad, such as "Advancing American Art," which drew controversy during the McCarthy Era. Landmark shows like "The Last Flowering of the Hapsburg Dynasty" and collaborations with institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Institution solidified its reputation. A significant shift occurred in 1995 when it relocated its headquarters from the IBM Building in Manhattan to its current offices, streamlining its operations to focus on exhibition management.

Mission and activities

The core mission is to originate and organize art exhibitions of scholarly and aesthetic significance, making them accessible to a wide audience across North America and internationally. Its primary activity involves curating and managing the logistics of traveling exhibitions, which are presented at university museums, art centers, and major public institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. The organization provides crucial support services to partnering venues, including comprehensive art conservation, catalogue raisonné development, curatorial guidance, and customized educational programming. It also administers grant programs, often funded by entities such as the Henry Luce Foundation, to support new research and exhibition development in under-represented areas of art history.

Notable exhibitions

The organization has organized hundreds of influential exhibitions spanning diverse periods, cultures, and media. Early significant projects included surveys of American Impressionism and Old Master drawings. Major historical shows include "The Gold of the Merovingians" and "Treasures of Early Irish Art," which toured extensively in the 1970s. It has been instrumental in presenting modern and contemporary artists, with exhibitions dedicated to figures like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Kara Walker. Thematic and scholarly exhibitions, such as "The Armory Show of 1913|The Armory Show at 100" and "Gods and Heroes: Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris," have received critical acclaim. Recent projects have explored global perspectives, including "Art of the Buddhist World Heritage Site" and surveys of Latin American art.

Publications

A robust publications program accompanies its exhibitions, producing scholarly catalogues that serve as lasting contributions to art historical literature. These volumes, often published in partnership with prestigious houses like Yale University Press and Rizzoli, feature essays by leading academics and curators from institutions such as the British Museum and the Getty Research Institute. Notable catalogues include those for "The Renaissance Portrait from Donatello to Bellini" and "Picasso and the Alliance Graphique." The organization also produces educational materials, gallery guides, and digital content to enhance the exhibition experience for public audiences and academic communities.

Leadership and governance

The organization is governed by a Board of directors composed of notable figures from the arts, philanthropy, and business sectors, with historical chairs including Robert Lehman of Lehman Brothers. Day-to-day operations are led by an Executive Director, a position held by directors such as John Lane and William Lieberman. It maintains a small professional staff specializing in curation, collections management, development, and finance. Strategic guidance and funding often come from a council of trustees and advisory committees featuring experts from major institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Category:Arts organizations based in New York City Category:Art museums and galleries in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1909