WASHINGTON — The Walton Family Foundation, the philanthropic organization founded by Wal-Mart founders Sam and Helen Walton, has given a $10 million grant to the National Gallery of Art to establish the John Wilmerding Fund for Education in American Art.
The fund is named for the National Gallery’s retired curator, deputy director and chairman.
The museum will use the fund for programs with a broad focus on American art, it said.
“John is one of the nation’s preeminent American art scholars and was our senior curator of American art,” said Earl Powell III, director of the National Gallery of Art.
“The Gallery extends its deep gratitude to Alice Walton and the Walton Family Foundation for this remarkable tribute to John Wilmerding and his distinguished service to the nation.”
The grant coincides with the National Gallery of Art’s 75th anniversary.
