Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation

THE RICHARD FLORSHEIM ART FUND

In 2004, August L. Freundlich, President of The Richard Florsheim Art Fund, announced that the Board of Trustees of the Fund: Emma Amos, Will Barnet. Sylvan Cole, Jr., Ruth E. Fine, William Meek, Alan A. Reinstein, Jack Lemon, Emeritus, Richard Levin, Emeritus and Berta B. Walker, Emeritus, had effected the transfer of its assets to The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation.

Joyce E. Robinson, Vice President and Executive Director and the Artists Advisory Committee members at that time: Cynthia Carlson, Chuck Close, Matthew Deleget, Janet Fish, Philip Pearlstein, Irving Sandler, Harriet Shorr and Robert Storr stated that The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation is please to have been chosen to receive these assets. The Foundation will continue the legacy of The Richard Florsheim Art Fund by honoring older American artists.

To fulfill this commitment, the Foundation currently awards a studio space in The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Space Program on an annual basis. The next application deadline is January 31, 2011. Please visit “The Space Program Application Guidelines” page on our website for more information about how to apply.

During his lifetime, Richard Florsheim’s career was distinguished by a sustained commitment to producing art, and an equally continuous dedication to improving conditions under which artists work. In his will, he established a small trust fund to assist meritorious older American artists in pursuit of their careers in art. During the lifetime of The Richard Florsheim Art Fund, the Fund made over 500 grants in support of deserving older artists.