April 2009

Welcome to the Web site of the Getty Foundation, the philanthropic division of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Foundation is dedicated to increasing the understanding and preservation of the visual arts, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world. At the end of 2009, we will celebrate 25 years of grantmaking in support of art historical scholarship, conservation, and professional development, having made over 5000 grants in 180 countries.

In anticipation of this anniversary, we engaged in a long-range planning process that included an intensive review of our past activities in consultation with grantees, field reviewers, Getty colleagues, and our board of trustees. As a result, we made a number of changes, shifting away from a primarily responsive type of grantmaking (with juried, annual competitions) to a more proactive philanthropic model in which we identify specific issues and work with partner organizations to design special initiatives around them.

Our four strategic priorities are: 1) access to museum and archival collections; 2) art history as a global discipline; 3) advancing conservation practice; and 4) leadership and professional development. Within these focus areas, our current initiatives range from support for exhibitions about the development of avant-garde art in Southern California (Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA 1945–1980) to the conservation of mosaics in the Mediterranean (Mosaikon). We're also maintaining our support for long-standing leadership and professional development programs including internships and the Getty Leadership Institute. Each of these initiatives and programs is described in the Funding Priorities section of our Web site.

We'll be updating the Web site as the initiatives unfold, as we announce new grants, and as we evaluate their progress, so please check back periodically for more information and stay tuned for our new e-newsletter this summer. You may also contact us at GettyFoundation@getty.edu.

Deborah Marrow
Director, The Getty Foundation