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AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131985627 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A500 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · folkartmuseum.org
revenue
$6.1M
expenses
$6.0M
net assets
$16.9M
employees
46
volunteers
20
program ratio
67%
mission · from form 990

THE AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM IS THE PREMIER INSTITUTION DEVOTED TO THE AESTHETIC APPRECIATION OF TRADITIONAL FOLK ART AND CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF CONTEMPORARY SELF-TAUGHT ARTISTS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THE MUSEUM PRESERVES CONSERVES AND INTERPRETS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY WITH OBJECTS DATING FROM THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO PRESENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Folk Art Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of traditional folk art and works by self-taught artists from the United States and abroad. The museum maintains a collection of over 7,500 objects dating from the 18th century to the present and offers free public access to exhibitions, educational programs, and an extensive public library and study center. Founded in 1961, it operates in New York City and engages nationally through partnerships and traveling exhibitions.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $563K
    MUSEUM GIFT SHOP AND E-COMMERCE PLATFORM MAKES MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC INCLUDING HAND-MADE ITEMS ARTISTIC REPRODUCTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS THAT REFLECT THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE MUSEUM.
  2. #2 $354K
    EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH SINGLE CLASS VISITS; MUSEUM-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS; TEEN DOCENT PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS; MONTHLY FAMILY PROGRAMS HANDS ON WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS WEEKLY MUSIC EVENTS PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS WITH ALZHEIMERS DISEASE TOURS FOR BLIND AND VISTORS WITH LOW VISION A YEAR-LONG PAID INTERNSHIP FOR LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR NYC TEACHERS AND OPEN HOUSES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS; AN EDUCATIONAL LIBRARY AND STUDY CENTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY APPOINTMENT; AND ADULT PROGRAMS THAT SERVE LIFE-LONG LEARNERS WITH A ROBUST PROGRAM OF LECTURES FILMS DOCENT TOURS SYMPOSIA AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Education Programs
Comprehensive offerings including school visits, teen docent programs, summer camps, workshops for adults, programs for seniors with Alzheimer’s, tours for blind and low-vision visitors, and professional development for teachers.
Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States
Exhibition examining vernacular art’s role in shaping American identity, presented during the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American “Schoolgirl” Art
Major loan exhibition highlighting 18th- and 19th-century American schoolgirl needlework and ornamental arts.
Museum Career Internship Program
Year-long paid internship for LaGuardia Community College students, providing hands-on experience in museum operations and professional development.
Museum Gift Shop and E-Commerce
Retail operation offering handmade items, artistic reproductions, and publications that reflect the museum’s mission, available onsite and online.
Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists
Exhibition exploring the historical definition of “self-taught artist” in the U.S. from the early 20th century to today, featuring contemporary and historical works.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 3 activities
    • Hosting public programs and lectures
      Hosts lectures, panel discussions, symposia, artist talks, Q&As, and discussion programs such as the Anne Hill Blanchard Uncommon Artists Lecture Series and public conversations with artists and scholars. Events cover topics like the gaze in PHOTO | BRUT, Shaker influence on American culture, and new research on Madalena Santos Reinbolt and Francesc Tosquelles.
    • Operating an off-site exhibition space
      Manages the Self-Taught Genius Gallery in Long Island City, NY, presenting rotating exhibitions of self-taught art with support from foundations and public funding agencies.
    • Organizing exhibitions of folk and self-taught art
      Curates and presents temporary and permanent exhibitions that explore vernacular art, self-taught artists, and American identity, including solo retrospectives, thematic shows on cultural traditions (e.g., Shaker gift drawings), and interdisciplinary topics such as gameboard design and ecological dimensions of textile art. Exhibitions include "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists," "Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States," and "Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American 'Schoolgirl' Art."
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Awarding recognition in the field of self-taught art
      Funds and administers the Audrey B. Heckler Visionary Award to recognize individuals, institutions, or projects making unique contributions to the understanding and appreciation of self-taught and vernacular art.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Delivering educational programs for diverse audiences
      Offers school, teen, adult, senior, and family programs aligned with academic standards, including multisession "Learning to Look" and "Folk Art: A Continuum" curricula, hands-on workshops, gallery sketching, music and movement activities, and Touch Collection engagement. Programs serve Pre-K–12 students, educators, individuals with dementia, and visitors with low vision or blindness, and are offered in-person and virtually.
  • Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
    • Offering guided and drop-in tours
      Provides drop-in gallery tours, guided exhibition tours for adult and university groups, and tours by appointment that include thematic discussions and historical context, enhancing visitor engagement with folk and self-taught art.
  • Artist Legacy Preservation and Documentation 1 activity
    • Operating a museum collection and archives
      Collects, preserves, conserves, and provides access to a comprehensive collection of folk and self-taught art, including the largest repository of works by Henry Darger and The Ralph Fasanella Collection and Archive. Maintains institutional archives, special collections, and a noncirculating research library with over 10,000 volumes, primary source materials, and periodicals focused on folk art, art brut, and related fields.
  • Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
    • Operating a museum gift shop and e-commerce platform
      Runs a retail operation offering handmade items, artistic reproductions, publications, and other products aligned with the museum's mission, both onsite and online, with increased focus on digital sales during the pandemic.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Providing accessibility and inclusion services
      Ensures physical and sensory access through full museum accessibility, large-print labels, American Sign Language interpretation upon request, Verbal Imaging and Touch Tours for blind or partially sighted visitors, and specialized programs like Folk Art Reflections for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their care partners.
  • Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
    • Providing public access to digital and online collections
      Makes artworks and archival materials accessible through a growing online collection platform, digital issues of Folk Art magazine (118 issues spanning forty years), virtual tours, and digital programming shared via YouTube and Vimeo, including recorded lectures, artist talks, and panel discussions.
  • Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Running internship and career development programs
      Operates the Museum Career Internship Program in partnership with LaGuardia Community College, offering hands-on training in exhibitions, public programs, research, and institutional operations to support professional growth in the museum field.
  • Arts-Based Dementia Engagement Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting remote and home-based learning
      Produces art-making activities for home use inspired by the museum’s collection and creates enrichment videos for people with dementia and their care partners, extending educational reach beyond physical spaces.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.15M
Contributions & grants$2.97M48%
Program service revenue$982K16%
Investment income$1.84M30%
Other revenue$355K
expenses
Total expenses$6.01M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$3.09M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$17.16M
Cash$852K
Investments$13.99M
Liabilities$271K
Net assets$16.88M
Liquid reserves29.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +11.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JASON T BUSCH DIRECTOR AND CEO 38 $349K
MARK EDEN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 38 $175K
KARLEY A KLOPFENSTEIN DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER 38 $129K
VALERIE ROUSSEAU CURATORIAL CHAIR FOR EXHIBITIONS AND SENIOR CURATOR OF SELF-TAUGHT ART AND ART BRUT 38 $119K
board members · 21
  • BARBARA L GORDON — TRUSTEE
  • BEN Z COHEN — TRUSTEE
  • BRETT A ROBBINS — TREASURER
  • BRIAN DONNELLY — TRUSTEE
  • BRUCE J WENDEL — TRUSTEE
  • CHRISTOPHER GIGIO — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID DELUCA — TRUSTEE
  • DENNIS PAUSTENBACH — TRUSTEE
  • EDWARD SHAPIRO — TRUSTEE
  • EDWARD V BLANCHARD JR — CHAIRMAN
  • ELIZABETH V WARREN — PRESIDENT
  • ELLEN BROOKS — TRUSTEE
  • GAIL WRIGHT SIRMANS — TRUSTEE
  • GILL HOLLAND — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES ROHRBACH — TRUSTEE
  • JANE A SHALLAT — TRUSTEE
  • JOLIE ALTMAN — TRUSTEE
  • JOYCE B COWIN — TRUSTEE
  • JULIA ALEXANDER — TRUSTEE
  • KARIN FIELDING — TRUSTEE
  • LANA MASOR — TRUSTEE
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • America250 Government — Partnered with the official commission for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
  • Art Education for the Blind Partner — Participates in Art Education for the Blind’s Art Beyond Sight events to serve visitors with vision impairment.
  • Booth Ferris Foundation Funder — Major supporter of the Self-Taught Genius Gallery
  • Bruno Decharme Partner — Collaborative curator and lender for the exhibition PHOTO | BRUT: Collection Bruno Decharme & Compagnie
  • Bruno Decharme & Compagnie Partner — Collaborated on the exhibition PHOTO | BRUT: Collection Bruno Decharme & Compagnie.
  • Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections Partner — Co-lender of artwork for the exhibition Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American “Schoolgirl” Art
  • Citi Foundation Funder — Supports educational programs
  • Con Edison Funder — Supports educational programs
  • Connecticut Museum of Culture and History Partner — Co-lender of artwork for the exhibition Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American “Schoolgirl” Art
  • Creative Growth Art Center Partner — Co-presented a public visit and workshop with artist Susan Janow.
  • Ford Foundation Funder — Additional supporter of the Self-Taught Genius Gallery
  • Henry Luce Foundation Funder — Major supporter of the Self-Taught Genius Gallery
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services Government — Funded a project through grant #MA-10-0181-13
  • LaGuardia Community College Partner — Collaborates on the Museum Career Internship Program providing hands-on experience and professional development for students.
  • Laguardia Community College Partner — Hosts a year-long paid internship program for students.
  • Learning and Engagement department Partner — Department within the American Folk Art Museum responsible for designing and delivering school partnership programs.
  • NYSCA Government — Receives support from the New York State Council on the Arts, as indicated by logo placement and affiliation.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provider of public funds for the Self-Taught Genius Gallery
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Supports educational programs in partnership with the City Council
  • New York City Tourism Partner — Collaborated to welcome visitors during the World Cup festivities.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provider of public funds for the Self-Taught Genius Gallery
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supports educational programs with funding from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
  • Vimeo Partner — Hosts public lectures and discussions on Vimeo.
  • Vimeo Partner — Platform used to host and share recorded educational content such as symposia and Q&A sessions.
  • Winterthur Partner — Co-lender of artwork for the exhibition Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American “Schoolgirl” Art
  • YouTube Partner — Hosts Video Visits series on YouTube for art enrichment.
  • YouTube Partner — Platform used to share filmed educational programs including lectures, artist talks, and panel discussions.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Art-Based Learning to Strengthen Visual Literacy and Critical Thinking
    methodology: inquiry-based_art_education
    By using facilitated discussion, inquiry-based methods, and integrated classroom-museum programming, the museum strengthens students' observational skills and critical thinking because sustained, interactive engagement with folk art cultivates visual literacy and deeper cognitive processing.
  • Centering Self-Taught Artists to Reclaim Cultural Narratives
    methodology: curatorial_reclamation
    By focusing exhibitions and scholarship on self-taught and vernacular artists outside academic traditions, the museum challenges dominant art historical frameworks and expands public understanding of artistic value because highlighting individual invention and underrepresented genres fosters equity and redefines cultural legitimacy.
  • Cultural Exhibition as Inquiry
    methodology: cultural-exhibition-as-inquiry
    By curating vernacular and folk art exhibitions that critically examine patriotism, civic values, and national identity, the museum fosters public inquiry into the formation of American identity and belonging because engaged reflection on cultural artifacts deepens understanding of shared history and inclusion.
  • Inclusive Access Through Multisensory and Dialogue-Based Engagement
    methodology: inclusive-access-through-engagement
    By integrating verbal description, tactile engagement, and dialogue-based programming, the museum makes folk art accessible and meaningful to people with disabilities and underserved communities because multimodal and relational approaches lower barriers to participation and deepen personal connection to art.