CULTURAL LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
Each year, the American Federation of Arts presents the Cultural Leadership Award to individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to supporting art and museums, both nationally and internationally. The Cultural Leadership Award is formally presented to the honorees at the AFA’s annual gala, attended by an elite audience of leaders from society, business, and the cultural world. Proceeds from the gala help underwrite the AFA’s traveling exhibitions, which are seen by well over one million visitors to museums located across the United States and around the world.
2008
Honoring:
- Elizabeth Rohatyn, founder of FRAME (French Regional & American Museum Exchange)
introduced by Michael Conforti, Director, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute; President, Association of Art Museum Directors
Co-Chairs:
- Stephanie and Jody La Nasa
2007
Honoring:
-
His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan
Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Chairman, Tourism Development and Investment Company
-
Thomas Krens
Director, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
-
Frank O. Gehry
Architect, Gehry Partners, LLP
Introduced by Tom L. Freudenheim, President of the American Federation of Arts
Co-Chairs:
- Stephanie La Nasa, AFA Trustee
- William Mack, Founder and Senior Partner of Apollo Real Estate Advisors, L.P.
2006
- Donna and Cargill MacMillan, Jr.
introduced by William Griswold, the Director and CEO of the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Chair:
- Muffy Bennett, trustee
2006 Gala Photos
2004
- John Bryan, former CEO and Chairman of Sara Lee
introduced by Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and CEO, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
- Shirin Neshat, Artist
introduced by Nancy Spector, Curator of Contemporary Art, Guggenheim Museum
- James Wood, retiring Director and President of The Art Institute of Chicago
introduced by Philippe de Montebello, Director, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Chair:
- Lewis Manilow, Philanthropist
2003
- Susan Weber Soros, Founder and Director, Bard Graduate Center for Studies of Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture
introduced by Leon Botstein, Music Director, American Symphony Orchestra
- Bill Viola, Artist
introduced by Lady de Rothschild, Founder and CEO of ELR Holdings, Philanthropist
Co-Chairs:
- Ann and Gilbert Kinney, AFA Trustees
2002
- Anne d'Harnoncourt, Director, Philadelphia Museum of Art
introduced by George Cheston, AFA Trustee and former President and Honorary Trustee, Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Maya Lin, Architect
introduced by George Robert A.M. Stern, Architect
Co-Chairs:
- David and Linda Supino, AFA Trustees
2001
- Ellsworth Kelly, Artist
- Stephanie French, AFA Trustee and Vice President, Corporate Contributions, Altria
- John Walsh, retiring Director, J. Paul Getty Museum
Co-Chairs:
- Jan and Frederick Mayer
2000
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
- Serena Rattazzi, retiring Director, AFA
Co-Chairs:
- Anne Cox Chambers, Director, Cox Enterprises and former Ambassador to Belgium
- Katharine Lee Reid, Director, The Cleveland Museum of Art
1999–AFA's 90th Birthday Party
- Jan Mayer, President, AFA Board of Trustees
Co-Chairs:
- Meryl and Robert Meltzer, AFA Trustees
- J. Carter Brown, former Director, National Gallery of Art
- Stephanie French, AFA Trustee and Vice President, Corporate Contributions, Altria
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles
1998
- Iris Cantor, Philanthropist
Co-Chairs:
- Linda and David Supino, AFA Trustees
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1997
- Henry Luce III, former Publisher, Time and Fortune magazines, Philanthropist
Co-Chairs:
- Ann and Gilbert Kinney, AFA Trustees
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1996
- Lee Hills, AFA Trustee and Chairman Emeritus, Knight Ridder
Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1995
- Betty Blake, AFA Trustee
- Roy Neuberger, AFA Trustee and Founder, Neuberger & Berman
Co-Chairs:
- Margot and Robert Linton, AFA Trustees
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1994
Honoring:
- Richard Oldenburg, former AFA Trustee and retiring Director, Museum of Modern Art
Co-Chairs:
- Ann and Gilbert Kinney, AFA Trustees
Corporate Chair:
- Stephanie French, AFA Trustee and Vice President, Corporate Contributions, Altria
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1993
- Evan H. Turner, retiring Director, The Cleveland Museum of Art
Co-Chairs:
- Peggy and George Cheston, AFA Trustees
- Barbara and Nicholas Millhouse, AFA Trustees
- Elizabeth Petrie, AFA Trustee
- Mrs. Alfred M. Rankin, AFA Trustee
Regional Co-Chairs:
- Betty Blake, AFA Trustee
- Susie Elson, AFA Trustee
- Jan Mayer, AFA Trustee
- Nani and Robert Warren, AFA Trustees
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1992
- J. Carter Brown, retiring Director, National Gallery of Art
Chair:
- Betty Blake, AFA Trustee
International Corporate Chair:
- Edmond J. Safra, Founder, Republic National Bank and Philanthropist
National Corporate Chair:
- Harold A. Poling, Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company
Regional Co-Chairs:
- Ann and Gilbert Kinney, AFA Trustee
- Jan Mayer, AFA Trustee
Honorary Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1991– "Salute to American Art"
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
1991– "Benefit Gala Dinner Dance"
Co-Chairs:
- Barbara and Richard Lane, AFA Trustees
- Meryl and Robert Meltzer, AFA Trustees
1989– "Perfectly Pop" 80th Anniversary
- George Weissman, Chairman of the Board, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Benefit Chair:
- Jan Cowles, AFA Trustee
Co-Chairs:
- Carolyn Alexander, Gallerist
- Charles Cowles, Gallerist
Corporate Chair:
- Donald Cox, AFA Trustee
Committee for the Arts Chair:
- Leo Castelli, Gallerist and Collector
