July 29th, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A message from
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
Reinaldo & Carolina Herrera
Advisory Board Chairs
Ali Cordero Casal
Chairman
The Board of Directors & Advisory Board
Have the pleasure to inform you The Páez Medal of Art 2021 will be bestowed to |
FUNDACIÓN EMPRESAS POLAR
Leonor Giménez de Mendoza and members of Fundación Empresas Polar’s team |
This year, The Páez Medal of Art wishes to honor philanthropy, and the love for humanity reflected in its practice, as the highest form of art. The Medal, which is offered once a year to an individual or group, contributes to the excellence, growth, support, and proliferation of the arts in both Venezuela and the United States. It recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals or institutions engaged in the creation and advancement of the arts and in furthering education.
In these complex and difficult times, it is important to set an example for future generations. The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) wants to honor an extraordinary foundation that works to promote local development through various programs, initiatives, and activities positively impacting communities throughout Venezuela. Since 1977, the Fundación Empresas Polar – the philanthropic arm of Grupo Polar – has dedicated itself to many noble causes, including using the transformative power of the arts, science and education to create positive change at the community level by increasing capacity to support comprehensive human development. This is a special year to celebrate their work and congratulate them for their 45th anniversary. Their work couldn’t be completed without the visionary leadership of President Leonor Giménez de Mendoza and their board of directors. It is for this reason that VAEA will honor, for the first time, The Paez Medal of Art to a group, the Fundación Empresas Polar.
About the Páez Medal of Art
The Páez Medal of Arts is awarded by The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) and presented once a year to an individual or group that has had an impact and contributed to excellence, growth, support and the proliferation of the arts and culture in Venezuela and the United States. It is named in honor of José Antonio Páez, leader of the Independence of Venezuela, who lived in exile during his last years in New York, and where he became a philanthropist.
WHAT’S NEW AT VAEA
The Padrino Program
The VAEA Bratter Padrino Program provides aid to Venezuelan artists in need of additional support. In addition to funding, we provide mentorship and access to opportunity through networks to help further their careers. We currently have 75 new applicants. By partnering with us to provide support, we can assist a wider number of beneficiaries. Please contact us to lean more.
Upcoming Events
Jose Sigala: Retrospectiva
The exhibition portrays and honors the life and work of Jose Sigala. Born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Sigala is considered one of the most important Venezuelan photographers of the 20th century.
September 30th, 2022
Collectio Momentum
A selection of works by contemporary artists curated from VAEA’s collection will form the basis of inaugural show in this new museum located in Guanare, the capital of Estado Portuguesa, Venezuela.
October 1st, 2022
VAEA New Rochelle will homage the art of photography with two exhibits by extraordinary photographers from Venezuela and the United States.
“Photography was born as a portrait medium and through its development has contributed, to the point of dominance, to the evolution of human depiction.”
-Arthur Ollman
Arnold Newman and his Contemporaries
Anchored by the work of one of America’s greatest portrait photographers, the exhibition will explore five decades of portraiture through the lenses of Newman’s contemporaries and peers.
(Date to be confirmed)
Pablo Picasso, Vallauris,
France 1954
Laguna San Rafael
Chile 1996
Serendipia: Carlos Eduardo Hellmund
The exhibition will highlight images from travels on seven continents by one of Venezuela’s most recognized photographers. Known for his dramatic landscapes, Hellmund’s images reflect the joy of unexpected discovery, or Serendipia.
(Date to be confirmed)
Carlos Eduardo Hellmund & Arnold Newman in Caracas. Leo Reinfeld 1993 |
Monumentos de Hermandad
As a show of gratitude to the government and people of Colombia for welcoming millions of Venezuelans and granting them legal status, our foundation in partnership with other institutions, is planning the restoration and installation of large format sculptures within Colombia. During these difficult times for Venezuela, Monumentos de Hermandad is a gesture of gratitude to our close neighbor and brother country.
The project started with the renovation of “Ala Solar” by Alejandro Otero.
Summer New Rochelle Gala: August 6th, 20222
In this event, we will honor emerging and very talented filmmakers from the United States of America and Venezuela by letting them show their short films in a beautiful outdoor space in the city of New Rochelle.
Fall Miami Gala: October 15th, 2022
VAEA is part of a group of foundations organizing the American VIVA 100 voices event at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
(Use promo code “VAEA” to support our organization)
Winter New York City Gala: December 15th, 2022
We are proud to announce that the Páez Medal of Art Award ceremony will take place at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium, honoring Fundación Polar. This is our most important event of the year.
For sponsor opportunities or early reservations contact gala@vaearts.org
David Rubenstein Atrium during the 2021 gala
Welcome to our new board members!
Ross Michaels
Advisory Board
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
Adam Stolman
Advisory Board
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
Oliver Krisch
Director
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
Antonio Rodriguez R.
Consejero Económico
Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Hermann Vicente Ebner Duran
Director
Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Marisela Hernández de Montenegro
Presidenta de Sociedad de Amigos
del Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Cipriano Heredia Soltero
Presidente de Sociedad de Amigos
del Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Guanare
Marcial Augusto Gozalez Vergel
Director
Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Manuel Ricardo Martinez Riera
Director
Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Gustavo León Villalba
Director
Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
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The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts is a 501 (c)3 tax exempt registered organization, contributions to VAEA are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
To support VAEA make a tax deductible contribution.
ZELLE: donate@vaearts.org
VENMO: @vaearts
Donate with Cryptocurrency
VAEA is pleased to provide a means of collection for donations in cryptocurrencies by granting tax reduction certificates if required.
To request the tax deduction certificate you must send us an email to crypto@vaearts.org with the proof of payment, TX ID or HASH of the transaction.
Once verified, we will send you your certificate.
Crypto Wallet Addresses
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