New York Academy of Art Announces Donation of Funds Received from Epstein
Last week, the New York Academy of Art (NYAA) informed its students and alumni of its plan to donate $65,900 associated with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to support survivors of sex trafficking. The school acknowledged “serious failures in judgment and governance” after continuing its relationship with Epstein post his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. The funds will be donated to Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), a nonprofit supporting survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.
The academy, co-founded in 1982 by Andy Warhol and Stuart Pivar, admitted past donations from Epstein in 2012 and 2014, totaling $65,900, will be given to GEMS. Previously, in 2020, they matched a $30,000 donation made by Epstein in 2014 to GEMS as an apology to MFA alum and Epstein whistleblower Maria Farmer.
Epstein, who was introduced to Farmer by then-NYAA Dean Eileen Guggenheim, had connections with the academy, including an alleged instruction from Guggenheim to sell her artwork to Epstein at a discount. Farmer accused Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of sexual assault during her stay at his Ohio residence in 1996. She reported the incident to the FBI, which was initially ignored. Epstein served a 13-month term in Florida for soliciting a minor in 2008.
Recent Epstein file releases revealed additional contributions, including a $25,000 table purchase for the academy’s annual fundraiser event in 2012 and 2014 and a $30,000 donation to the Portrait Scholarship fund. Emails showed Guggenheim encouraged Epstein’s involvement with the academy. NYAA’s response included installing an ethics committee for donor policies, and Guggenheim is set to retire as board chair earlier than planned.
The release shed light on Epstein’s ties with art institutions. In related events, David A. Ross resigned from his position at the School of Visual Arts following revealed support for Epstein post-conviction, and new allegations against Museum of Modern Art trustee Leon Black emerged.