BofA Awards Critical Funding for Conservation of Historic Artworks

Rhea-AI Summary

Bank of America has announced 16 recipients for its 2025 Art Conservation Project grants, supporting the preservation of significant artworks worldwide. The initiative, which began in 2010, has awarded over 275 grants across 40 countries.

Notable restoration projects include:

• Rembrandt's "The Blinding of Samson" at Frankfurt's Städel Museum
• Over 100 American Presidential paintings at the National Portrait Gallery
• Artworks at the Sydney Opera House
• Rothko Chapel's East Wall Triptych in Houston

The program addresses critical preservation needs across various artistic styles, media, and cultural traditions in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. This initiative is part of BofA's broader commitment to Responsible Growth, supporting arts-focused nonprofits to generate local economic impact and preserve cultural heritage.

Positive

• Global expansion of art conservation program demonstrates strong corporate social responsibility initiatives
• Partnership with 16 major cultural institutions across multiple continents shows robust institutional relationships
• Long-term track record with over 275 grants awarded in 40 countries since 2010
• Strong financial position enabling continued investment in cultural preservation
• Maintains extensive global presence serving clients across 35+ countries

Negative

• None.

The Art Conservation Project will help restore art from around the world; Sydney Opera House and National Portrait Gallery among recipients

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixteen cultural institutions have been named as grant recipients of the 2025 Bank of America Art Conservation Project. The selections represent a wide array of artistic styles, media and cultural traditions across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. 

Bank of America's Art Conservation Project began in 2010 to help address the critical need to preserve artwork for future generations.  Since then, more than 275 grants have been awarded in 40 countries to conserve paintings, sculptures, works on paper, manuscripts and archeological pieces.

This year's projects include:

• Possum Dreaming by Michael Nelson Jagamara and Salute to Slessor's 5 Bells by John Olsen at the Sydney Opera House
• The Blinding of Samson by Rembrandt Harmensz Rijn at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt
• A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth at Sir John Soane's Museum in London
• More than 100 paintings of American Presidents at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
• La Debutante by Roberto Matta at the Museo de Artes Visuales in Chile
• Triptych on the East Wall of the Rothko Chapel in Houston
• The Henriot Family by Pierre-Auguste Renoir at The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia
• Roadwork by McArthur Binion at the Detroit Institute of Arts
• Zun Wine vessel in the shape of an owl at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
• Eagle Eye by Nam June Paik at the Ackland Art Museum at UNC at Chapel Hill
• Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks by Claes Oldenburg at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven
• Black Book of Hours (Horae beatae marie secundum usum curie romane) at the Hispanic Society of America, conserved in partnership with the TEFAF Restoration Fund
• Six Gothic artworks at the Museo Nacional de San Carlos in Mexico City
• Ezechiel stained glass windows at Sainte Chapelle in Paris
• Tableau Tir by Niki de Saint Phalle at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm
• Watching the Tidal Bore by Komuro Suiun at the Yamatane Museum of Art in San Paolo

"Art reflects the creativity, ingenuity and history of the people who created these works – and like everything, art is vulnerable to the passage of time," said Brian Siegel, Global Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive at Bank of America.  "Together with some of the world's finest cultural institutions, we can help preserve these works for future generations." 

Watch Brian's full message.

Each project is unique, and many rely on a wide range of advanced conservation techniques to restore and preserve them. For more details on the 2025 Bank of America Art Conservation Project recipients and what each conservation project entails, please view the 2025 Art Conservation brochure (PDF).

Previous Art Conservation Project grants have been used to restore iconic pieces by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Sam Gilliam and Jenny Holzer, as well as many other artists whose work holds great importance to cultural heritage and the history of art.

Bank of America supports and partners with a wide range of arts-focused nonprofit organizations to bridge our shared history, create opportunities, and generate local economic impact as one aspect of the bank's many efforts to drive Responsible Growth.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact:

AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America
Phone: 1.332.234.8635
annmarie.mcdonald@bofa.com

 

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

FAQ

How many art conservation grants did Bank of America (BAC) award in 2025?

Bank of America awarded 16 cultural institutions with art conservation grants in 2025, spanning across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.

What major artworks will Bank of America (BAC) help restore at the National Portrait Gallery?

Bank of America's 2025 Art Conservation Project will fund the restoration of more than 100 paintings of American Presidents at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

How many art conservation projects has Bank of America (BAC) funded since 2010?

Since 2010, Bank of America has awarded more than 275 art conservation grants across 40 countries to preserve paintings, sculptures, works on paper, manuscripts, and archaeological pieces.

Which famous Rembrandt painting will BAC restore in 2025?

Bank of America will fund the restoration of Rembrandt's 'The Blinding of Samson' at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt as part of its 2025 Art Conservation Project.

What Australian landmarks are receiving BAC art conservation funding in 2025?

The Sydney Opera House will receive funding to restore two artworks: 'Possum Dreaming' by Michael Nelson Jagamara and 'Salute to Slessor's 5 Bells' by John Olsen.