Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies Receives $300,000 Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation for the Art Collection at the new U.S. Mission to the United Nations

Online, January 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - New York, NY January 21, 2010 - The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE), the leading non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the United States image abroad through American art, has received a generous grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in the amount of $300,000. The funds will be used to fulfill FAPE's USUN Cultural Initiative by providing an outstanding collection of American art for permanent display at the new United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York City.

The grant, which is available to FAPE through October 2010, will partially fund the organization's first site-specific donation to USUN -- Sol LeWitt's magnificent Wall Drawing #832: A red spiral line on blue as well as acquire art for the more than 50 public spaces which have been identified by the building's architect, Charles Gwathmey of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates. FAPE is working closely with Gwathmey Siegel, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. General Services Administration to fulfill its Cultural Initiative, and to ensure that USUN is a showcase of our nation's rich and diverse culture.

"We are grateful to the Rockefeller Foundation for their tremendous support of FAPE's mission to use art as a diplomatic language to encourage cross-cultural dialogue," said FAPE Chairman Jo Carole Lauder. "By donating significant American art to USUN, we hope that citizens, dignitaries, visa applicants and government visitors from around the world will get to experience the finest that American culture has to offer."

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations was created in 1947 through an act of Congress to assist President Harry Truman and the State Department in conducting U.S. policy at the United Nations. The Rockefeller family as well as the Foundation have strong ties to the United Nations from donating the land for the USUN building to years of programmatic support. USUN, which is located directly across from UN Headquarters, is slated to open in the summer of 2010.

For media queries on FAPE or for more information on the USUN project, please contact Radha Vij, details below.

About the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies
The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the United States image abroad through American art. Founded as a public-private, non-partisan partnership in 1986, FAPE works with the U.S. Department of State to contribute fine art to U.S. embassies around the world. FAPE's donations include works by more than 186 preeminent American artists placed in over 140 countries. Headquartered in Washington D.C., FAPE has raised over $42 million in art and monetary contributions to date. For more information, please visit www.fapeglobal.org.

Media Contact for FAPE:
Radha Vij
Gutenberg Communications
(212) 239-8741
[email protected]

About the Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation fosters innovative solutions to many of the world's most pressing challenges, affirming its mission, since 1913, to "promote the well-being" of humanity. Today, the Foundation works to ensure that more people can tap into the benefits of globalization while strengthening resilience to its risks. Foundation initiatives include efforts to mobilize an agricultural revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa, bolster economic security for American workers, inform equitable, sustainable transportation policies in the United States, ensure access to affordable and high-quality health systems in developing countries, accelerate the impact investing industry's evolution, and develop strategies and services that help vulnerable communities cope with the impacts of climate change. For more information, please visit www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

Media Contact for the Rockefeller Foundation:
Teresa Wells
212-852-8304
[email protected]