Donor Spotlight: Friday Foundation

ArtsFund and some of Seattle’s longest–serving anchor arts institutions received some welcome news recently. The Friday Foundation announced $9 million in gifts to nine Seattle arts organizations to honor the lives and legacies of late art enthusiasts Jane Lang Davis and Richard E. Lang. The Langs believed in the universal power of the arts and were deeply committed to furthering their impact on the Seattle community.  

ArtsFund received a gift of $270,000 from the Friday Foundation in honor of the Langs‘ legacy. Every dollar of this gift was granted back out to the arts and cultural community through our COVID-19 Arts Emergency Relief Fund. This fund, thanks to the generosity of all its contributors, delivered more than $3 million dollars in unrestricted grants to 106 cultural organizations throughout the Central Puget Sound, helping to spread the impact of this transformational giving well beyond the nine core grantees.  

The Friday Foundation gifts will have a long-term impact on our arts community as $6.5 million of the $9 million granted is dedicated to commissioning or buying contemporary music, opera, dance, and art. Seattle Art Museum received $2 million for acquiring global contemporary art and $2 million for COVID relief; Seattle Symphony Orchestra received $1.5 million for the new Richard E. Lang and Jane Lang Davis Living Music Program; Pacific Northwest Ballet received $1 million for a new-works fund; Seattle Opera received $1 million for the Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab; and Henry Art Gallery received $1 million for a new-works fund. Additional gifts included $100,000 each in unrestricted grants to ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Seattle Chamber Music Society.  

“The Langs understood the transformational power of the arts – a power we need today more than ever. Their vision and legacy, honored by these gifts from the Friday Foundation, will have an immediate impact on arts and culture in our region and will resonate for years to come.  These gifts serve as a significant reminder of the impact of philanthropy, and how we can and must all work together to secure the future of cultural organizations that help our community thrive. These generous gifts are inspiring and set a profound example for us all,” said Michael Greer, ArtsFund President & CEO.  

To learn more, visit fridayfoundationarts.org.

Header image: Jane Lang Davis and Richard E. Lang, Lang Family Collection, 1973.