Founder’s Award

PLEASE NOTE:
The health and well-being of our vibrant community of supporters and artists has long been Fleisher Art Memorial’s top priority, and it continues to inform our decision making as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds globally. Planning for this event has been underway and continues as we actively monitor updates and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the event that we are unable to gather on June 5th for the event, we will postpone the celebration until a time when it is safe for us all to gather. All gifts received will be dedicated to naming a program in Dr. Clayton’s honor, in the spirit of her passion for inspiring future generations of artists.

On Friday, June 5, Fleisher Art Memorial will honor Dr. Constance E. Clayton with the 31st Founder’s Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant commitment to providing access to the arts, promoting excellence in creative expression, and enriching Philadelphia’s cultural resources. Join us to honor Dr. Clayton and celebrate the achievements of young artists in Fleisher’s arts education programs.

Dr. Clayton is a renowned educator, civic leader, and arts advocate with an unwavering commitment to helping children succeed. Among her many achievements, Dr. Clayton was the first African American and the first woman to lead the School District of Philadelphia. She served as superintendent for 11 years before she retired in 1993. Since her retirement, Dr. Clayton has made a remarkable impact on the arts. She served on the board of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and established the Constance E. Clayton Fellowship which provides African American scholars with an opportunity to gain experience at the Museum in preparation for a career as a curator or educator. In 2019, Dr. Clayton contributed more than 70 works to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, currently on view in the exhibition Awakened in You, accessible to thousands of Philadelphia schoolchildren and inspiring future artists, collectors, and museum audiences with work that speaks to the human experience.

The Founder’s Award Celebration is Fleisher’s most significant annual fundraising event to support its award-winning arts education programs that help young artists find their creative voice. Your support will be a meaningful tribute to Dr. Clayton and will support Fleisher’s nationally-renowned programs that engage children hailing from more than 200 diverse schools in the region, including twenty in-school artist-residencies with teaching artists.

Questions? Contact Jamie Hughes, Development Director, at 215-922-3456 ext. 350 or jhughes@fleisher.org.