About

The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts) is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs and lived experiences of artists, communities, and arts organizations whose work is anchored by the visual and the performing arts.

Based in Milwaukee and national in scope, Ruth Arts honors our benefactor Ruth DeYoung Kohler II (1941–2020) with inventive approaches to philanthropy that are rooted in creativity, experimentation, and access.

Ruth Arts currently supports a dynamic cultural landscape in three distinct ways: grant programs for organizations nominated via Artist Choice, continuing Ruth’s personal giving, and an invite-only initiatives program designed as multi-year thinking partnerships.

We remain curious.

Contact

For all general inquiries, please contact info@rutharts.org.

For all press inquiries, please contact press@rutharts.org.

Please sign up for our newsletter for information and announcements related to our programs:

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The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Team

  • Karen Patterson

    Executive Director

  • Kim Nguyen

    Program Director

  • Heidi Wirth

    Operations Director

  • Zola Yi

    Senior Grants Manager

  • Leila Grothe

    Operations Manager

  • Michael Lagerman

    Project Manager

Colophon

Identity by Omnivore. Site in collaboration with Rahul Subhash Shinde & Lukas Eigler-Harding.