Americans for the Arts mourns the recent passing of philanthropist, arts supporter, and longtime friend Eli Broad. Mr. Broad was a visionary supporter of arts and culture in Los Angeles and across the nation through both the Broad Arts Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

In 1997, Mr. Broad was recognized by the Business Committee for the Arts with the BCA 10 Leadership Award when he was still serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunAmerica Inc. And in 2005, Americans for the Arts presented him with the National Arts Award for Philanthropy in the Arts. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Broad underwrote the Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts at the National Arts Awards honoring leaders including Martha Rivers Ingram, Beverley Taylor Sorenson, Paul G. Allen, John and Mary Pappajohn, and Roger and Vicki Sant.

For more than 50 years, Eli and Edythe Broad have deepened access to arts and culture for millions of people in their hometown of Los Angeles and throughout the country. In addition, Mr. Broad offered strong support—often privately—to key arts advocacy actions and successes throughout the past twenty years. 

The Broads have been founders, catalysts, and supporters of a vast array of arts organizations and generously committed a remarkable $1 billion to the arts in Los Angeles. Mr. Broad served as founding chairman of MOCA Los Angeles, led the push to fund and build the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and built The Broad Stage and the Broad Contemporary Art Museum at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In 2015, he opened The Broad museum in downtown L.A. offering free general admission to further expand access to the arts. In 2019, the museum welcomed 920,000 guests that were nearly three times more ethnically diverse and 12 years younger than the national art museum average. The Broad also has committed to amplify the voices of artists of color and women through its special exhibits.