RESOURCES

ESTABLISHING LEGACY GOALS

Establishing Legacy Goals is a simple guide produced by Artists’ Legacy Foundation to help artists think about their long-term estate planning goals. Contact us for a free copy, or download the PDF below.

LEGACY DISCUSSION GROUP

The Artists’ Legacy Foundation hosts a discussion group for artists and estate managers on Zoom. We gather quarterly to discuss topics such as image management, building and preserving an artist’s archive, estate planning documents, website and social media strategies, intellectual property, and more. Guest speakers occasionally join us for lectures on special topics related to estate planning. These closed-door sessions are designed to help artists connect with peers and share their experiences, and to make steps towards long-term legacy goals.

CREATING A LIVING LEGACY

Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) is an initiative of the Joan Mitchell Foundation designed to provide support to older artists in the areas of studio organization, archiving, inventory management, and through this work create a comprehensive and usable documentation of their artworks and careers. Visit the website for free workbooks and guides.

THE ARTIST AS PHILANTHROPIST

The Artist as Philanthropist: Strengthening the Next Generation of Artist-Endowed Foundations is a study conducted by the Aspen Institute for the Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation and is the first effort to define and describe the artist-endowed foundation field in the US. Though a small portion of all private foundations, these distinctively endowed entities are growing in number and as such, represent a potential force shaping cultural philanthropy and stewarding this country’s postwar and contemporary art patrimony. Released in 2010, the two-volume report detailing the Study’s findings — The Artist as Philanthropist: Strengthening the Next Generation of Artist-Endowed Foundations — provides leaders in philanthropy, the arts, education, and journalism with an overview of the artist-endowed foundation field, its origins, current status, trends, and prospects. In addition, the Study Report offers artist-donors, their advisors, and foundation leaders a summary of considerations in forming, sustaining, and terminating artist-endowed foundations as well as planning and conducting foundations’ charitable programs. A reading guide to the study report for artists, their family members and / or heirs is available on their website. Click the button below for more information.

NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has several resources for artists on their website, including a Business of Art directory, NYFA Source, and emergency resources directory. The Business of Art directory includes guidance on documenting artwork, finances, legal topics, fundraising and grants, and arts entrepreneurship.