Americans for the Arts today announced that Sarah Arison, President of the Arison Arts Foundation, has been named National Arts Awards Chair for a five-year term. She is underwriter of the Ted Arison Young Artist Award, named for her grandfather, and she co-chaired the National Arts Awards from 2012 to 2019.

“Sarah Arison is a passionate supporter of the arts,” commented Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch. “She is known throughout the artistic community for her stewardship of young talent and her commitment to cultural institutions that increase access to arts education, support aspiring and emerging artists, and encourage world-class artistry. I am very pleased that Sarah is lending her vision and serving as chair of this important event that recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of those who are advancing the arts in America.”

Born and raised in Miami, Arison was immersed in the arts from a young age thanks to her grandparents, visionary philanthropists Ted and Lin Arison, who founded the Arison Arts Foundation—a private grant-making organization that supports emerging artists and the institutions that foster them—the National YoungArts Foundation, and the New World Symphony, among their many philanthropic endeavors.

Arison is active across a broad cross-section of national arts organizations. In addition to serving on Americans for the Arts’ Board of Directors, she is Chair of the Board of the National YoungArts Foundation, where she has developed strategic partnerships with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sotheby’s, Sundance Film Festival, and more to provide aspiring talent with presentation and mentorship opportunities. Arison is Vice-Chair of the board of MoMA PS1; a trustee of MoMA and member of the Committee on Education; a trustee of the American Ballet Theatre and Chair of the Education Committee; a trustee of Lincoln Center; a trustee of the Brooklyn Museum and Chair of the Education Committee; a trustee of New World Symphony; and a trustee of the Americas Foundation of the Serpentine Galleries.

Arison has also ventured into film producing, supporting projects that shed light on lesser known aspects of the arts. In 2015, she produced her first feature film, Desert Dancer, starring Freida Pinto. She later went on to co-produce The First Monday in May, 2016, a documentary film chronicling the creation of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute blockbuster exhibition China: Through the Looking Glass; The Price of Everything, 2018, which was acquired by HBO at the Sundance Film Festival; and Aggie, which premiered in January 2020.

Arison earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and French with a minor in Art History from Emory University.

Americans for the Arts looks forward to celebrating the National Arts Awards with Arison and hundreds of other arts supporters on Monday, October 26, 2020. Join us there!
 
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of 60 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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