The Arlington Museum of Art and the Chinati Foundation are among 69 arts organizations that have each received $50,000 grants from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation.
Donald Judd, “Artillery shed with 100 untitled works in aluminum,” 1982-1986. Permanent
collection, The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas. Photo: Florian Holzherr, courtesy of
The Chinati Foundation. Donald Judd Art © 2024 Judd Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
The grants are distributed through the Foundation’s Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI), which provides funds to visual arts organizations to support energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable projects that lead to reduced emissions and operational costs. FCI was launched in 2021 and is a partnership between the Foundation, Environment & Culture Partners, and RMI, a nonprofit working to improve energy practices in the U.S.
FCI grants fall into four categories: Catalyst Grants, for first actions, small spaces, or simple projects with a fast turnaround; Scoping Grants, which support assessments to identify clean energy needs; Technical Assistance Grants, supporting complex project support and design; and Implementation Grants, to support innovative, large-scale changes. Each year, organizations across the country receive awards. Some past Texas grantees include Artpace San Antonio and the Judd Foundation in Marfa (2023); the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (2022); and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas (2021).
In a press release, Lise Motherwell, the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, remarked, “The Foundation is delighted with the advancements in environmental sustainability spearheaded by our partners through the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative. With its newest round of grantees, FCI has supported over two hundred visual arts organizations to date and is leading the way in tangible climate action.”
Elizabeth Smith, the Executive Director of the Foundation, added, “Over the last four years, FCI grantees have developed and implemented groundbreaking climate focused initiatives, inspiring a surge in applications and more ambitious projects. Extending the Foundation’s full range of grantmaking activities, FCI upholds Helen Frankenthaler’s legacy and cultivates a future where our peer organizations in the visual arts lead the way in creating a more sustainable world.”
ESports Stadium, home to the Arlington Museum of Art.
This year’s Texas awardees have each received Technical Assistance Grants. The Arlington Museum of Art (AMA) will use the funds to conduct a sustainability assessment of its new campus, as well as designing a new energy efficient LED lighting and lighting control system. The Chinati Foundation will complete a full restoration of its artillery shed buildings and undertake the preservation of the artworks held in the buildings.
Chris Hightower, the President and CEO of AMA told Glasstire, “The new Arlington Museum of Art is honored to have been selected to receive a Technical Assistance Award through the Helen Frankenthaler Climate Initiative… This project will help us reduce our climate footprint and operating costs, and is a positive contribution towards sustainability in our community.”
Learn more about the Frankenthaler Foundation and its initiatives via the organization’s website.
