About Us

The Puffin Foundation, Ltd. has sought to open the doors of artistic expression by providing grants to artists and art organizations who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities due to their race, gender, or social philosophy.

Why the Puffin?

The Puffin, once endangered in the northeastern United States, was returned to its native habitats through the efforts of a concerned citizenry. Our name is a metaphor for how we perceive our mission in the arts: to join with other concerned groups and individuals to ensure that the arts not merely survive, but flourish at all levels of our society.

Our Grantees

Special Projects

Gallery for Social Activism

A People’s History of Struggle at the Museum of the City of NY
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Opens 4 Feb, 2020

Puffin Prize for Creative Citizenship

Supporting visionaries who challenge the status quo
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Opens 4 Feb, 2020

ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism

Honoring International Champions of Human Rights
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Opens 4 Feb, 2020

Investigative Journalism

Helping Make Journalism that Matters Possible MORE INFO

Opens 4 Feb, 2020

Puffin Cultural Forum

Fostering a dialogue of art, issues & community
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Opens 4 Feb, 2020

More Special Projects

 

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Opens 4 Feb, 2020

News & Blog

A graphic of silhouette Black Americans in front of a red, yellow, and green design

Puffin Closed for Juneteenth

June 18, 2024

Dear Puffin People, The Puffin Cultural Forum will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday 6/19 in observance of Juneteenth. Our offices will reopen on Thursday, 6/20. We hope you have a wonderful holiday! -The Puffin Staff As Puffin acknowledges Juneteenth, we commemorate past triumphs while acknowledging the current obstacles. Furthermore, we pledge Read More

Photograph shows Shirley Chisholm smiling at microphone.

Changing The Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100

June 3, 2024

To commemorate the centennial of the birth of Shirley Chisholm (1924 – 2005), The Museum of the City of New York, in collaboration with The Shirley Chisholm Project at Brooklyn College, will present a major exhibition detailing her life and legacy. At this Puffin-supported exhibition, attendees will get a firsthand Read More

Theodora Lacey is an elderly Black woman with grey hair in a pony tail wearing a black suit smiling with an artistic photo of herself.

Civil Rights Activist Theodora Lacey Receives Clara Lemlich Award at The Museum of The City of New York

May 28, 2024

Labor Arts, an organization that gathers, identifies and displays cultural artifacts in order to encourage more people to appreciate the history of work and working people, presented the Clara Lemlich Awards in conjunction with The Puffin Foundation at The Museum of the City of New York. Teaneck’s own civil rights Read More

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