The mission of the Visual Arts Foundation is to advance the arts as both individual vocation and social force. The Foundation supports emerging artists and broadens audiences for their work, fosters a climate that values and seeks understanding of the arts, and increases visual literacy and appreciation for "the artist’s life."

The Foundation awards scholarships and grants; presents competitions, exhibitions and forums for exchange that are free and open to the public; and sponsors community service projects to which the visual arts are integral. These sponsorships, scholarships and grants support projects and exhibitions in the United States and abroad.

Additionally, the Foundation provides scholarships for students who attend the School of Visual Arts. There are several ways to help participate in these projects and the mission of the Foundation. Faculty and staff of the College as well as many, many friends of the Foundation provide financial support through scholarship funds. All monies received are used solely and entirely for the intended purpose; no amount is diverted for administrative expenses. Scholarship funds can but need not be designated for students in a particular area of study such as fine arts, photography, illustration, or graphic design.

A number of scholarship funds have been established in memory of former teachers or students, with contributions from colleagues, family and friends. These include the Pamela Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund for fine arts students; the John Lidstone Scholarship in film; the Jerry Ashkinos, Adam Budin, Frank Camardella, and Adam & Karen Duthie Zakin awards for advertising and graphic design students; the Archie Goodwin, Harvey Kurtzman, Joseph Orlando, and Lou Stathis scholarships, illustration and cartooning; the Estelle Bellomo and Ray Levine awards for students in art therapy; the Keith Haring Award in art education; the Venus and Doe awards in photography; the Designer’s Saturday Award in interior design; and the Golden Lollipop Award. Awards open to students in all departments are the Charles & Marie Egnasko, Bobby Aiello, Robert Eric Farmer, Ralph Coe, and Faculty and Staff scholarships.

The Foundation has received support from such professional associations as the Advertising Club of New York, the New York Art Directors Club, the One Club, Aquent and the Society of Illustrators. JP Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank, Philip Morris Companies, Eastman Kodak, Disney, Merrill Lynch, Travelers, Sony and Con Edison are among the many business organizations that have provided scholarships and funding for special projects. The Coyne family, publishers of Communication Arts, provides support for MFA Illustration students.

The Foundation is pleased to announce the Robert C. Frankenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund, established by Celestine Frankenberg in memory of her husband, will provide financial assistance for students whose focus is on drawing. Scholarships will be awarded beginning with the 2004-2005 academic year.

The LCU Foundation has established the LCU Foundation Housing Scholarship which, made possible by the generous support of the LCU Foundation, will provide financial assistance for housing. This scholarship, open to female students is unique because it is dedicated solely to assist students who have to address the high cost of living in New York City as part of their financial planning.

Special Projects also attract interest and support. A symposium-"The Culture of Interactivity"-which investigated the social, political, economic and cultural implications of the interactive computer brought together artists, students, educators, philosophers, scientists, engineers, and others. The two-day event was made possible with a lead grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and generous contributions from the Greenwall and AT&T Foundations, Goethe Institute–New York, and the School of Visual Arts. A subsequent publication was underwritten by the New York State Council on the Arts. The New York Digital Salon exhibitions receive generous contributions from the Rockefeller Foundation and New York State Council on the Arts, Embassy Suites Hotels and the National Endowment of the Arts.

As part of the annual Master Series Award presented by the School of Visual Arts, the Foundation has hosted dinners celebrating the work of the spotlighted artist or designer and to raise scholarship funds. The recipient of the 2007 Master Series Award is Steven Heller.

Please note that under most circumstances, the Foundation does not provide scholarships or grants for freshman students. The Foundation works only with continuing students. Entering students should speak with admissions representatives about other financial assistance that might be available to them.

For information about Foundation scholarship, students should seek information from the relevant department chair, since selections for these scholarships and awards are handled by each department and not by the Foundation itself. Furthermore, other scholarships, grants and sponsorships which may available are handled on a case-by-case basis. The public is invited to inquire and request additional information by contacting the Foundation.

For further information on how to establish or contribute to a scholarship fund, or for answers to any questions about other projects, grants or programs, please contact the Visual Arts Foundation at 212.260.7607 or via e-mail to info@visualartsfoundation.org.