In Surprising Twist, ADAA Art Fair Will Now Benefit the Whitney Museum
The organization abruptly terminated its longstanding partnership with the Henry Street Settlement social services organization last year.
Months after the Art Dealer’s Association of America (ADAA) terminated its longstanding partnership with the social services nonprofit Henry Street Settlement, the organization has announced a surprising new beneficiary for its fair at the Park Avenue Armory this fall: the Whitney Museum of American Art.
ADAA’s announcement of a new philanthropic relationship with the Manhattan museum is the latest twist in the association’s sudden distancing from the Henry Street Settlement last summer. Last August, the ADAA, a membership organization of 200 art dealers from 40 cities, canceled the 2025 edition of its over three-decade-old fair, the Art Show in New York City. The event had been a source of about $1 million in unrestricted funding for the Henry Street Settlement, which provides Lower East Siders with health care, arts programming, and food and housing services.
When ADAA unexpectedly canceled the fair, leadership at the Henry Street Settlement had to launch a new fundraiser to recoup funds for its programming over the summer. In October, Henry Street announced a new partnership with the Independent Art Fair, taking place this spring.
Early this year, the ADAA announced that it would launch a new show, simply called the ADAA Fair, in November, without a clear philanthropic partner. Now, the organization says proceeds from its new fair’s preview gala will go toward the Whitney’s education and artistic programs.
A spokesperson for the ADAA did not directly respond to Hyperallergic's inquiry about which specific initiatives the new show would benefit.
In a press release, chair of the ADAA Board Susan Sheehan said the new partnership with the Whitney would build on the association's “long-standing commitment to creating meaningful philanthropic opportunities in support of the visual arts.”
“It allows us to align our efforts more directly with the broader cultural ecosystem,” ADAA Executive Director Kinsey Robb said in the press release, “while remaining grounded in the standards and values that define the ADAA."
ADAA also maintains a foundation funded by its member galleries that has awarded grants to institutions, including the DuSable Black History Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.
Whitney Director Scott Rothkopf said the partnership symbolized ADAA's recognition of the museum’s “role in championing American art and making it accessible to broad and diverse audiences. " Young people ages 19–25 can now visit the museum for free, but the standard adult admission rate still sits at an exorbitant $30. Seniors and students pay $24.
According to 2024 tax documents, Henry Street Settlement reported $15,098,544 in private, nongovernmental contributions, while the corresponding figure for the Whitney was $39,204,000.
The Lower East Side nonprofit serves an estimated 50,000 individuals per year, according to its website. Its arts arm is Abrons Arts Center, which claims to be the “only comprehensive arts and culture center” inside of a New York City social services organization.
The Whitney Museum has not yet responded to Hyperallergic’s inquiries.
