The New York Academy of Art said Friday that it will give away money donated by the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after newly released Justice Department files shed new light on his ties to the institution.
According to the New York Times, the school said it plans to donate $65,900 linked to Epstein to a nonprofit that supports victims of human trafficking. It had previously redirected another $30,000 he had given to the academy.
In an email sent to students and alumni, the academy’s board acknowledged what it described as “serious failures in judgment and governance” in maintaining connections with Epstein after his criminal conduct had become known. The school also said it would review its policies around philanthropy and donor engagement.
The New York Academy of Art was just one of Epstein’s myriad connections to the art world. He served on the academy’s board in the early 1990s and remained involved with the institution for years afterward. According to recently released federal documents, he attended fundraising events such as the Tribeca Ball and the school’s “Take Home a Nude” auction, and was courted to support scholarship programs.
The documents suggest that some of Epstein’s connections with the academy continued even after he had been investigated in Florida in connection with the sexual abuse of underage girls.
The revelations have renewed scrutiny of the academy’s leadership, including board chair Eileen Guggenheim. Emails included in the federal files indicate that Guggenheim invited Epstein to events and encouraged his continued involvement with the school in later years.
The academy said Guggenheim will step down as board chair a month earlier than planned, though officials said her resignation had already been scheduled for this year.
Founded in 1982 and cofounded by Andy Warhol, the New York Academy of Art was created to promote figurative art. The institution is also known for high-profile fundraising events that attract collectors, artists, and socialites.
The school’s relationship with Epstein had already drawn criticism in the past. In 2020, the academy apologized to alumna Maria Farmer, who has said she met Epstein through the school and later reported abuse by him and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
In its latest message to the community, the academy said it will establish an ethics committee to review policies governing donor relationships and philanthropy.
