WAF Global Conference 2023
The Only Dedicated Gathering For Art Foundations Worldwide
The WAF Global Conference was hosted on 14 – 15 November 2023, at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, Athens, Greece.
Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, WAF Conference 2023 Venue
Being the only dedicated gathering for all Art Foundations around the world, the WAF Conference was once again a unique opportunity to reconvene. Art-world leaders evaluated the future of Art Foundations putting together their knowledge and experiences. Over the two days Founders and Executives discussed how to grow and care for Collections, financial challenges and strategies, Sustainability, Partnership models and how to support artists and engage even further with audiences thanks to Grant-giving and Programme delivery.
Enhancing the Future of Art Foundations through Common
Development & Global Knowledge
Peter Deckers & Helena Stork, Co-Founders, World Art Foundations
Robert Wilson, Founder, The Watermill Center
Marie Koutsomallis, Head of collections, Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Fleurette P. Karadontis, President, Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Clare Hindle, Director, World Art Foundations
Welcome coffee at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation.
Session 1: Panel Discussion – Growing & Caring for a Collection in The 2020s
- How are Collectors positioning themselves towards today’s social and political issues?
- Acquisition Committees & Advisory Boards: Roles and structures for a sustainable growth
- Discussing the future of cultural relations between Art Foundations and public museums
- Commercial Markets: Finding balance between supporting emerging and established artists
Chair: Benedicta M Badia Nordenstahl, Collector & Patron
Speakers: Sandra Terdjman, Co – Founder, KADIST
Javier Lumbreras, Co – Founder, Collegium
Ioanna Vryzaki, Director, D.Daskalopoulos Collection
Odile Tevie, Co-Founder & Director, Nubuke Foundation
Karsten Schmitz, Founder, Stiftung Federkiel
Nusrat Mahmud, Co-Founder, Brihatta Art Foundation
Session 2: Panel Discussion – How & Why Have Artists – Led Art Foundations Evolved Over The Last Two Decades?
- Review ing the different structures and analysing the need for change from the traditional models
- How and why are Artist – led Art Foundations impacting societies?
- What does legacy and succession planning look like from an Artist point of view?
- Local Content: Ensuring Knowledge Transfer is effectively implemented across the Art Foundations’ eco-system
- Discussing the opportunities of working with public institutions
- The relevance and opportunities for Artist – led Art Foundations to partner with Galleries
Chair: Cheryl Sim, Managing Director & Curator, Fondation PHI
Speakers: Robert Wilson, Founder, Watermill Centre
Elizabeth Smith, Director, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation
Allan Schwartzman, Founder & Principal,Schwartzman&
Godfrey Worsdale, Director, Henry Moore Foundation
Mireia Massagué, Director & Mikel Chillida, Development Manager, Fundación Eduardo Chillida y Pilar Belzunce
Belinda Holden, Managing Director & Curator, Yinka Shonibare Foundation
Nicole Martorana, Director of Programming, The Watermill Center
Session 3: Panel Discussion – Achieving Financial Sustainability Whilst Delivering Charitable Objectives
- What are the new income streams and how sustainable are they ?
- Measuring and quantifying the balance between financial and charitable successes
- What does the future for Fundraising look like?
- How viable and sustainable are Endowments ?
- Reflecting on established commercial structures, what does the future look likes for Art Foundations and Galleries?
- Mission vs. Costs: Assessing the viability of a project
Chair: Nura Makki, Global Partnerships, World Art Foundations
Speakers: Nigel Carrington, Chair, Henry Moore Foundation
Nancy Bikson, Managing Director, Chapel&York
Leslie Ramos, Co-Founder and Director, The Twentieth
David Gramazio, President, the museum box
Nigel Carrington, Chair & Godfrey Worsdale, Director , Henry Moore Foundation
IoannaVryzaki, Director, D.Daskalopoulos Collection
Maria Pavlidi, Founder, ArtVolt
Session 4: Networking Roundtable Discussions
Theme 1 : Collection and Exhibition Programming : Creating, Caring & Disseminating The Art
Table 1: How are Collectors positioning themselves towards today’s social and political issues? Hosted by Simon Preston, Head of Artists & Artist Estate Advisory, Schwartzman&
Table 2: WAF Membership: Collaboration case study Hosted by Nusrat Mahmud, Co-Founder, Brihatta Art Foundation & Koen Vanmechelen, Founder, Mouth Foundation
Table 3 : Touring Exhibitions today : Benefits & Limitations Hosted by David Gramazio, President, the museum box
Table 4 : Commissioning Models: Review of past, present and future practices Hosted by Naomi Potter, Director, Esker Foundation
Table 5 : Collaborations for the Future: How Art Organisations Can Reach New Audience ? Hosted by L. J. Kim, Executive Director, d’strict
Table 6 : Showcasing Fortecho Solutions in use at the Goulandris Foundation Hosted by Rob Green, CEO, Fortecho Solutions
Theme 2: Reviewing Operational Structures & Strategies To Fulfil The Charitable Objectives
Table 7 : Decarbonising Art Foundations’ spaces and buildings Hosted by Maria do Rosário Palha, Senior Sustainability Manager, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Table 8 : Good Governance Hosted by Rudy Capildeo, Partner & Head of Art & Luxury Law & Victoria Mahon de Palacios, Partner, Wedlake Bell LLP
Table 9 : How to make the art pay for everything: art financing 101 for foundations, museums, and art collectors Hosted by Rebecca Fine, Managing Director, Athena Art Finance
Table 10 : What does the future for Fundraising look like? Hosted by Arnaud Marcilhacy, Head of International Fundraising, Chapel & York
Table 11 : High – Net worth Trend in Fundraising & How To Capture More Donors Hosted by Valentina Guerrini, Senior Director, Head of Philanthropy, Altrata
Drinks Reception
Anahita Taneja, Co-Founder, Prameya Art Foundation & Malin Barth, Director, Kunsthall 3,14
Victoria Siddall, Co-Founder, Gallery Climate Coalition & Murmur
Petra Remans, Director, Mouth Foundation & Mara Sporn, Curator, Langen Foundation
Valentina Guerrini, Senior Director, Head of Philanthropy, Altrata & Nura Makki, Global Partnerships, World Art Foundations
Silvia Noguer Figuerol & Sandra Jáuregui Eguía, Trustees, Fundació Suñol
Cheryl Sim, Managing Director and Curator, PHI Foundation
Alma Zevi, Trustee, Pentagram Stiftung & David Gramazio, President, the museum box
Jim Hill, Founder, Esker Foundation & Mikel Chillida, Development Manager, Fundación Eduardo Chillida y Pilar Belzunce
Peter Deckers, Co-Founder, World Art Foundations & Eric Hemeleers, CEO, Eeckman
Session 5: Panel Discussion – First Generation’s Founders: Visions, Values & Impacts
- Debating about the role of an Art Foundation: What has been, what is and what will be ?
- The need for change from the traditional Models: Why and how?
- New ways of Programming & Collecting: What is different and what are the influences?
- Exploring the future landscapes for Art Foundations worldwide: Missions, impacts and objectives
- The importance of legacy & succession planning: When & how?
- What are the new technologies available to support the decarbonisation of Art Foundations?
Chair: Tom Marks, Founder, MarksCalil
Speakers: Phoebe Greenberg, Founder, PHI Foundation
Odile Tevie, Co – Founder and Director, Nubuke Foundation
Javier Lumbreras, Co – Founder, Collegium
Arnaud Marcilhacy, Head of International Fundraising, Chaple & York
Rosalia Romano, Foundations Coordinator, World Art Foundations & Nura Makki, Global Partnerships, World Art Foundations
Lana de Beer David, The A. G. Leventis Foundation
Session 6 : Art Foundations’ Partnership Models: Opportunities & Limitations
- Establishing sustainable partnerships with longevity, financial viability and coherent values
- Collaborative Programming: What is successful & what should be avoided?
- Spreading the assets and reducing risks through multiple partners
- Partnering whilst staying true to your mission
- Review of different successful partnership approaches
- Can joint applications for income generation be fruitful?
Chair: Johanna Suttner, Global Partnerships, World Art Foundations
Speakers: Mikel Chillida, Development Manager, Museo Chillida Leku
Simon Castets, Director of Strategic Initiatives, LUMA Arles
Katharina Scriba, Director, Fondation Fiminco
Anahita Taneja, Co – Founder, Prameya Art Foundation
Niall Smith, Director of Becoming, TBA21
Mikel Chillida, Development Manager, Museo Chillida Leku
Katharina Scriba, Director, Fondation Fiminco
Burcu Yuksel, Director, Gaia Art Foundation
Session 7 : Panel Discussion – A Comprehensive Exploration Of Grant – Giving , From Donor To Grantee
- How are Grants’ T&Cs influencing Art Foundations’ activities?
- Why and how are Grant – Giving Art Foundations impacting societies?
- What does the future look like for Grant Giving organisations?
- Reviewing Grants’ Giving strategies: Assessing what makes a grant successful
- Discussing challenges in prioritising relevant needs of different institutions (private vs. public)
- How to ensure the success and longevity of Grants’ support?
- Extending Grants’ opportunities between Capital and Programming needs
- Improving Grants visibility for better grantee’s representation and inclusion
Chair: Marina Vranopoulou, Founder, Dio Horia Art Gallery
Speakers: Sandra Terdjman, Co – Founder, KADIST/ Afield
Nigel Carrington, Chair, Henry Moore Foundation
Piergiorgio Pepe, Ethics Practitioner, Founder, The Kerenidis Pepe Collection & Phenomenon Anafi
Burcu Yuksel, Director, Gaia Art Foundation
Lou J. Kim, Executive Director, d’strict
Benedicta M Badia Nordenstahl, Collector & Patron
Lucy Hunter, Director, ISLAA
Victoria Siddall, Co-Founder, Gallery Climate Coalition & Murmur
Session 8 : Panel Discussion – Programme Delivery Today : Engaging With Audiences, & Working With Artists
- Ensuring Founders’ missions are delivered whilst promoting diverse curatorial perspectives
- Achieving an open and constant dialogue between Collections and Temporary Exhibitions
- How are Art Foundations adapting to environmental concerns raised by artists, audiences and stakeholders?
- Global conversations: How is programming providing a service to society?
- How impactful are Artists values on programme delivery?
Chair: Nicole Martorana, Director of Programming, The Watermill Center
Speakers: Odile Tevie, Co-Founder and Director, Nubuke Foundation
Benjamin Weil, Director, Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian
Marie Koutsomallis, Head of Collections, Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
L. J. Kim, Executive Director, d’strict
WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS & VENUE PARTNER
