In 1971, Josef Albers established a not-for-profit organization to further "the revelation and evocation of vision through art." Today, this organization—The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation—is devoted to preserving and promoting the enduring achievements of both Josef and Anni Albers, and the aesthetic and philosophical principles by which they lived. It serves as a unique center for the understanding and appreciation of the arts and of all visual experience—with the combined legacies of Josef and Anni Albers at its heart. The Foundation carries out its mission by working on exhibitions and publications, primarily focused on the art of Josef and Anni Albers; assisting with research; and supporting education. It conserves the Alberses' art and archives, and serves as an information resource for artists, scholars, students, and the general public. It helps sponsor other activities inspired by Josef and Anni Albers's interests and concerns. The Albers Foundation is located on a beautiful woodland site in Bethany, Connecticut, near New Haven—thanks to funds acquired by Anni Albers for the restitution of family property in the former East Berlin. The Bethany campus includes a central research and archival storage center to accommodate the Foundation's art collections, library and archives, and offices, as well as residence studios for visiting artists. The rural property provides a venue for educational outreach programs. The buildings were designed by Tim Prentice and his partner Lo-Yi Chan. Tim Prentice, who studied with Josef and is a sculptor as well as an architect, considered the project in part an expression of thanks to one of his mentors; we consider the tribute a splendid success. The Foundation is open by appointment to interested individuals, scholars, and curators for tours, study, and research.
