ABOUT THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Richard (Rick) Fisher has unique expertise obtained from four decades of uniting beneficiaries and benefactors in support of culture. He served on numerous boards including Brooklyn's NURTUREart, Georgia Tech's Museum of Papermaking, and chaired committees that include those for the Cultural Olympiad, the United Nations Environment Programme, The Art-In-Architecture Program of the U.S. General Services Administration, and the Federal Reserve Bank. He held visual art and education management positions for The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (ranked one of the top ten comprehensive art museums in the U.S.), The South Carolina Arts Commission (State Art Collection), South Arts (National Endowment for the Arts Individual Visual Artist Fellowship Program and Traveling Exhibitions Program serving nine states), and for the third-largest arts organization in the nation, Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center, (Community Education Outreach Director). He has produced art exhibitions internationally.
Under the auspices of the Institute for Venture Philanthropy which he founded in 1998, Mr. Fisher has facilitated a broad range of legacy projects for institutions that include the New York Times Agency, the Arts Council of Switzerland, and The Committee of 100 for Tibet in collaboration with the Dalai Lama Foundation. Beneficiaries include City University of New York's Godwin-Ternbach Museum, the University of Southern California's Fisher Museum of Art, The College of William and Mary's Muscarelle Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, Miami University Art Museum & Sculpture Garden, the Weisman Art Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Art Gallery, and Emory University's Visual Art Gallery, among multiple others. Critical and historical discourse related to his efforts have included prominent scholars within the visual arts field including Edward Lucie-Smith. Artists, whose exhibitions have been presented nationwide, have received heightened public exposure and unparalleled acclaim.
An industry innovator, Mr. Fisher originated the online platform, culturevore.com, with a roster of over 400 diverse participating institutions that include the Smithsonian, The Barnes Foundation, Museum of the African Diaspora, National Audubon Society, Habitat for Humanity International, New York Public Library, and the Metropolitan Opera. He began his professional career teaching college. Mr. Fisher holds a Master of Arts degree in Painting and Post-Masters Certification in Arts Advocacy.
(QUICK READ) About the Founder and Director
The DO IT YOURSELF movement inspired Rick Fisher to develop direct support to artists and culture-based institutions and programs, In 1998, Mr. Fisher originated a high-impact means of networking and capacity-building assistance. The beneficiaries are as varied as: The University of Southern California's Fisher Museum of Art, College of William and Mary's Muscrarelle Museum of Art, the Weisman Art Museum, and the Atlanta Modern Design Festival, among multiple others.
(QUICKER READ) About the Founder and Director
His interest in innovation is very personal, creatively contributing "pay it forward" thought leadership to the providers of culture, natural resources, and well-being.