This just in (in response to my query) from the Ford Foundation:
The Ford Foundation is making a one-year, $500,000 grant to the American Folk Art Museum to help secure a strong and vibrant future for this vital New York cultural institution. Our grant will provide support for museum operations, strategic planning, and innovative efforts to ensure that new and diverse audiences access the museum’s unparalleled collection.
Folk art is a manifestation of the incredible diversity and spirit of America, and the American Folk Art Museum is a cultural treasure for New York City. We are pleased to help ensure that its acclaimed collection reaches as many people as possible.
That’s a great start. But it’s going to take more than a half million bucks to secure AFAM’s long-term future. The trustees have reportedly also kicked in an unspecified amount. Hopefully, with the Ford Foundation’s imprimatur, this snowball keeps rolling.