Arts
With the Scherman family’s passion for books, music, and theater, the Foundation has from the beginning recognized the value of arts and culture to the fabric of New York City.
16%
of Scherman Foundation Giving in 2021
The Foundation’s arts funding moved over the years from mostly larger, Manhattan-based anchor institutions to a greater emphasis on midsize and smaller groups throughout the five boroughs of New York City. By the 1990s, the Foundation realized we could make more of a difference in the cultural life of the city by supporting smaller organizations that were breaking new ground, and sought a broader range of groups presenting interesting, original work.
Artistic excellence and visionary leadership have always been among the Foundation’s top criteria. We make long-term investments in dynamic presenting organizations that provide less-established groups and individual artists with infrastructure that can allow them to make more experimental work; this has been a highly effective grants multiplier. Our support also sustains the work of numerous producing entities, from midsize organizations to small, independent producers. To further reinforce our grantees’ work, the Foundation has sought to improve arts infrastructure by funding arts service organizations that provide help with resource development, small-business training, and other technical assistance for administrative needs, as well as facilitating community-building and promoting economic vitality in different artistic fields and the arts community overall.