Ford Foundation's Gallery Hosts NXTHVN Exhibition Under New Leadership

The Ford Foundation gallery showcased the collective exhibition THIS IS NOT A RETREAT!, featuring artists from NXTHVN, an arts hub in Connecticut. This event coincided with a leadership change, as Darren Walker concluded his presidency in November, handing over to Heather Gerken. Gerken, who previously served as the dean of Yale Law School, emphasized in her introductory letter that 'the winds of polarization have reached gale force,' reinforcing the foundation's dedication to equality as its 'touchstone.' Supported by a 1936 endowment from Henry and Edsel Ford, the foundation operates with an annual budget of $609 million. Under both Walker and Gerken, it aims to counter what some describe as the 'war on woke,' funding diverse initiatives like disability rights and democratic governance. Notably, $1 million was granted to the Mississippi Museum of Art in July, and in February, $100,000 was awarded to the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York. Darren Walker was placed 37th on the 2024 Power 100 list.