Foundation for Arts Initiatives

The Foundation for Arts Initiatives (FfAI) was founded in 1931 as the American Center for Students and Artists. Originally purposed as a community center in Paris for American expatriates, the organization became known as the American Center in Paris. It thrived as an influential cultural space and transitioned in 1996 from a public nonprofit organization to a private foundation named the American Center Foundation. The foundation began making grants three years later with a continued focus on avant-garde and experimental art. In 2008, the organization changed its name to the Foundation for Arts Initiatives (FfAI).

Today, FfAI is a grantmaking institution that supports individuals, collectives, and institutions in contemporary art and culture. In particular, the organization focuses on grantees that address broader social issues such as the impacts of widespread culture wars, national populism, and the erosion of civil and human rights. While the Foundation for Arts Initiatives continues to evolve in response to societal demands, it remains a steadfast advocate for contemporary art in its many forms.