named programs · 10 · from sources
What they call their work
Group and School Visits
Onsite and virtual tours and hands-on workshops for K-12 and college groups focused on illustration, aligned with NYC arts education standards.
Hall of Fame
Annual induction of distinguished illustrators recognized for significant contributions to the field of illustration.
Holiday Craft Fair
Annual market event featuring handmade crafts and artwork from independent creators, hosted in the Society’s museum space.
Illustrators Annual Exhibition
Premier annual showcase of the year’s best illustration work from around the world, selected by jury and featured in an exhibition and printed catalog.
MoCCA Arts Festival
Manhattan’s largest independent comics and cartoon festival, celebrating creators from across the industry with exhibits, awards, and public engagement.
SI Kids! Virtual Workshops
Online educational series for youth teaching character design, sequential art, book dummy creation, and cover design through Zoom-based instruction.
Student Scholarship Program
Competition and scholarship initiative supporting junior-level illustration students financially through their senior year.
The Original Art
Annual exhibition highlighting the finest illustrations from children’s books published in the U.S. during the year.
Will Eisner Scholarship
Scholarship awarded to outstanding junior illustration students in partnership with the Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation.
Zankel Scholarship
Scholarship honoring Arthur Zankel, supporting high-achieving junior illustration students in their final year of study.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Administer scholarship and grant programs for emerging illustratorsFunds financial support for junior-level illustration students through the Will Eisner Scholarship and Zankel Scholarship to assist with their final year of study.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Curate and host public exhibitions of illustration, comic, and cartoon artOrganizes and presents year-round exhibitions, including historical and contemporary works, themed shows, and major retrospectives such as the first-ever exhibition of original Spider-Man artwork. Features curated selections from the Permanent Collection, annual competitions, and solo exhibitions like that of the Balbusso Twins. Hosted nearly 53,000 visitors through 11 exhibitions in 2025.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Deliver educational programs and workshops for students and school groupsOffers hands-on illustration workshops, guided and self-guided tours, and virtual learning experiences for school groups of up to 32 students. Provides multi-session virtual classes in picture book creation covering character design, storyboarding, layout, and cover design, culminating in a printable book. Programs are led by trained illustrators and educators.
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Photography and Creative Arts Competitions 1 activity
- Host annual competitions and award recognitions in illustrationOrganizes the Illustrators Annual, a global competition judged by a jury, resulting in a public exhibition and printed publication. Presents awards including the Hamilton King Award, Hall of Fame elections, Richard Gangel Award, SI Impact Award, and hosts the student scholarship competition for emerging illustrators.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Maintain and provide access to a Permanent Collection and research libraryPreserves a cataloged Permanent Collection of 3,500 illustrated works for scholarly use and periodic display. Operates a private library seating 20 with a research collection on illustration, animation, comics, and cartoon art, available for meetings, presentations, and private study.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Operate event and hospitality spaces for public and private useManages multiple event venues including the Main Floor Gallery, Lower Gallery, Garden Gallery, and garden terrace for private events such as receptions, galas, and meetings. Operates the 128 Bar within the Garden Gallery, serving cocktails in a space featuring Norman Rockwell’s “The Dover Coach” and offering live music. Spaces include audiovisual equipment, stage, piano, and rental furnishings.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Produce and host the MoCCA Arts Festival and Holiday Craft FairProduces the MoCCA Arts Festival, Manhattan’s largest independent comics and cartoon festival, showcasing established and emerging artists. Hosts an annual Holiday Craft Fair modeled after European markets, featuring artist booths throughout museum galleries for seasonal shopping.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.35M
Contributions & grants$609K26%
Program service revenue$1.08M46%
Investment income$523K22%
Other revenue$132K
expenses
Total expenses$2.38M
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$999K
Grants paid out$80K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.25M
Cash$573K
Investments$4.94M
Liabilities$117K
Net assets$6.14M
Liquid reserves27.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +20.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARABELLE LIEPOLD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $165K |
board members · 15
- DAVID ELMO COOPER — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID REUSS — TREASURER
- DENNIS DITTRICH — BOARD MEMBER
- DOMINIC BODDEN — SECRETARY
- EUGENIA MELLO — BOARD MEMBER
- JASON RAISH — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSEPH GOLDBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- JUDY FRANCIS ZANKEL — BOARD MEMBER
- LESLIE COBER — PRESIDENT
- PHILIPPE LABAUNE — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBYN PHILLIPS-PENDLETON — BOARD MEMBER
- SARA GOMEZ WOOLLEY — BOARD MEMBER
- SIMONE NORONHA — BOARD MEMBER
- TIM O'BRIEN — BOARD MEMBER
- VICTOR JUHASZ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Beehive Books Partner — Collaborates with the Society of Illustrators to display award-winning illustrated books in the Balbusso Twins exhibition.
- Carson Ellis Partner — Artist leading a guided exhibition tour at the Society.
- Clare Pernice Partner — Professional picture book author, illustrator, and instructor who teaches the SI Kids! Zoom classes.
- LesDudis Partner — Collaborated with LesDudis on the presentation of the Spider-Man artwork exhibition.
- Midtown Arts and Theater Center Partner — Co-presents the Holiday Craft Fair with the Society of Illustrators.
- NYC Department of Education Partner — Aligns school programs with the Department's Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts.
- Penguin Random House Partner — Illustrated publications by the Balbusso Twins are featured in the Society of Illustrators' exhibition.
- The Creative Company Partner — Illustrated albums for this publisher are displayed in the Society of Illustrators' exhibition.
- The Folio Society Partner — Collaborates with the Society of Illustrators to display award-winning illustrated books in the Balbusso Twins exhibition.
- Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation Partner — Collaborates with the Society of Illustrators to administer the Will Eisner Scholarship for illustration students.
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.
- Competitive Exhibition for Talent Developmentmethodology: competitive_exhibition_for_talent_developmentBy using competitive exhibitions to showcase emerging illustrators, the Society promotes early-career visibility and professional growth, because public recognition through curated competition motivates artistic excellence and integrates new talent into the broader illustration community.
- Historical-Contemporary Dialogue in Exhibitionsmethodology: historical_contemporary_integrationBy exhibiting historic and contemporary illustration together, the Society creates a dynamic dialogue that reinforces illustration’s evolving artistic value, because connecting past mastery with present innovation helps audiences and artists see illustration as both a legacy practice and a forward-moving art form.
- Integrated Cultural Stewardship Modelmethodology: integrated_cultural_stewardshipBy combining exhibitions, education, and community engagement into a unified institutional model, the Society strengthens the field of illustration as a living art form, because sustained impact requires cultural preservation, skill development, and professional belonging to be advanced together.
- Practitioner-Led Experiential Learningmethodology: practitioner_led_workshopsBy using hands-on workshops led by practicing illustrators, the Society teaches illustration skills more effectively, because real-world artistic practice modeled by professionals fosters deeper student engagement and authentic skill acquisition than theoretical instruction alone.