The Brooklyn Museum has revealed Ford Foundation president and longtime arts supporter Darren Walker as the honoree for its next annual Brooklyn Artists Ball. The fundraiser, made possible by Dior, will be held on April 29.
The honor arrives alongside a major professional change for Walker, who revealed that he will step down from his post with the Ford Foundation by the end of 2025. Earlier this month, he was named board president of The National Gallery of Art.
“We are thrilled to honor Darren Walker, a visionary and courageous leader who has left an indelible mark on communities worldwide, including right here in Brooklyn,” said Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy director of the Brooklyn Museum. “Through his transformative work at the Ford Foundation, Darren has been a critical partner in bringing some of our most compelling exhibitions and programs to life, and we’re delighted to celebrate his remarkable contributions at this year’s Artists Ball.”
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Walker has been president of the Ford Foundation since 2013. During his leadership, Walker championed the establishment of a $1 billion social bond during COVID-19 as well as a fund to support cultural institutions during the pandemic, helped save the Detroit Institute of Arts during the city’s bankruptcy filing, and created pivotal programs like the Black Feminist Fund and a grant for disability rights.
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The Ford Foundation has supported Brooklyn Museum exhibitions including “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” and “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power,” and also supported the museum’s first composer-in-residence, Niles Luther.
“It is a privilege to be recognized by the Brooklyn Museum, which has been both an ardent supporter and a vibrant bastion for art and artists,” Walker said. “I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to support the museum’s mission of celebrating and preserving art and culture, and ensuring that our community has access to experiences that can inspire collaboration and compassion at a time when it is so desperately needed.”
Recent Brooklyn Artist Ball honorees have included Titus Kaphar, Carrie Mae Weems and Dior‘s Maria Grazia Chiuri.
