San Antonio Museum of Art receives grants from Mellon Foundation and Henry Luce Foundation

San Antonio, TX — July 14, 2025 — The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is proud to announce the receipt of significant grants from two of the nation’s leading philanthropic organizations: the Mellon Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation. 

The multi-year grant from the Mellon Foundation will support the ongoing development of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, founded in 1998. This funding will deepen the Museum’s commitment to Latin American art through enhanced research, expanded exhibitions, refreshed collection displays, and new professional development opportunities for the curatorial team. 

Meanwhile, a generous grant from the Luce Foundation will enable a comprehensive evaluation of SAMA’s photography collection, which consists of approximately 2,500 works. The grant will support the engagement of outside experts to assess the collection, identify future research and conservation needs, and collection display opportunities, including an exhibition in 2027. This initiative will begin this summer and will include paid internships that provide hands-on experience for emerging professionals in the field.

“We are deeply grateful to both foundations for their ongoing commitment to our work, especially at this time in our institutional history,” said Emily Ballew Neff, The Kelso Director of SAMA. “Centered on our global-spanning art collections, this support is an essential step in writing SAMA’s next chapter.”

These recent rewards build on the Museum’s longstanding relationships with both foundations. Previous funding from the Mellon Foundation has supported multiple postdoctoral curatorial fellowships, while the Luce Foundation contributed to the Museum’s installation of its Taihu rock, a gift from the Chinese “Sister City” Wuxi, in honor of San Antonio’s tricentennial anniversary, and past support of American art exhibitions. 

“The historic and generous leadership role that both foundations play in the cultural life of our nation ensures that artistic vibrancy and excellence remain at its core for generations to come,” Neff said. “We are grateful to them for supporting San Antonio.”

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San Antonio Museum of Art: 
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains more than 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. For more information, visit samuseum.org.

About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation:
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty and empowerment that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and guided by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org.

About The Henry Luce Foundation: 
The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development. A leader in arts funding since 1982, the Luce Foundation’s American Art Program advances the role of American art in realizing more vibrant and empathetic communities. Through support for innovative projects, it empowers institutions to celebrate creativity, elevate underrepresented voices, challenge accepted histories, and seek common ground.

Media: 
For interviews, digital images, or additional information, please contact: 
Alma Solís, PR & Social Media Manager 
210.978.8113 | alma.solis@samuseum.org