Columbia University School of the Arts and the LeRoy Neiman Foundation today announced a donation that will benefit students who are candidates for Master of Fine Arts degrees in the field of printmaking. 

The $1.5 million donation will be made over a period of five years, creating the LeRoy and Janet Neiman Fellowship Fund and providing need-based scholarships for up to eight students each year. 

The Foundation’s donation also qualifies for matching funds from the Kluge Fellowship Challenge, which was established by John Kluge (’37), a Columbia College alumnus, noted philanthropist, and international media entrepreneur. The funds will be used to endow the LeRoy and Janet Neiman Fellowship Fund, which will be used to support tuition fellowships for MFA students in any field of the visual arts. The students it benefits will be known as LeRoy and Janet Neiman Fellows.  

“LeRoy Neiman understood that the future of artmaking is dependent on the work of young artists and he was always interested in what they were creating and loved to be around their vibrancy,” said Carol Becker, Dean of Faculty at Columbia University School of the Arts. “An educator himself, he also strongly believed in the process of educating and mentoring artists and has been a great friend and patron of the School of the Arts.”

“LeRoy Neiman grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and achieved success in large part due to his art studies under the G.I. Bill,” said Steven Bond, Director of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation. “He supported numerous arts programs at all levels, including the creation of the LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies at Columbia University School of the Arts, which he saw grow to become one of the most advanced and successful arts education programs in the country and fine art print studios in New York City. The Foundation is delighted to continue Mr. Neiman’s commitment in support of arts education and to further a relationship with Columbia University and its dynamic School of the Arts.” 

About the LeRoy Neiman Foundation. 

The LeRoy Neiman Foundation seeks to perpetuate the legacy and philanthropic spirit of LeRoy Neiman (1921 – 2012), and to advance and share the impact of his life, his ideals and artwork in the US and throughout the world. The Foundation supports organizations that promote the study, improvement and advancement of the arts and provide opportunities for at-risk youth to develop paths to successful futures. It was founded by Mr. Neiman in 1986. During his lifetime, Mr. Neiman made donations totaling nearly $20 million to arts programs of educational institutions and community-based organizations that support at-risk youth. 

About the Columbia University School of the Arts. 

Columbia University School of the Arts awards the Master of Fine Arts degree in Film, Theatre, Visual Arts and Writing and the Master of Arts degree in Film Studies, and offers an interdisciplinary program in Sound Arts. The School is a thriving, diverse community of artists from around the world with talent, vision and commitment. The faculty is composed of acclaimed and internationally renowned artists, film and theatre directors, writers of poetry, fiction and nonfiction, playwrights, producers, critics and scholars. Every year the School of the Arts presents exciting and innovative programs for the public including performances, exhibitions, screenings, symposia, a film festival and numerous lectures, readings, panel discussions and talks with artists, writers, critics and scholars. For more information, visit arts.columbia.edu.