NEW YORK – April 24, 2026 – Bank of America has unveiled the recipients of its 2026 Art Conservation Project™ grants, awarding funding to 18 nonprofit cultural institutions across 10 countries. This significant initiative aims to preserve historically and culturally important artworks that are vulnerable to the passage of time and environmental degradation.
Among the most prominent beneficiaries are grants allocated for the ambitious restoration of Rembrandt's iconic "The Night Watch" at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and Pablo Picasso's masterpiece "The Old Guitarist" at the Art Institute of Chicago. Other internationally renowned works receiving support include Henri Matisse's "La Négresse" and Titian's "Bacchus and Ariadne".
Brian Siegel, global arts, culture and heritage executive at Bank of America, emphasized the bank's unique commitment to art conservation. "While other banks may support exhibitions and have art collections, we're the only corporation that has really had this focus on conserving, protecting, helping to ensure that future generations have access to some of these great works of art," Siegel told The Charlotte Observer.
The funded projects span a diverse range of artistic traditions and conservation needs, from delicate works on paper to large-scale paintings and objects requiring advanced preservation techniques. All conserved artworks are slated to return to public display, underscoring the bank's dedication to public access to the arts.
Since its inception in 2010, the Bank of America Art Conservation Project™ has supported over 15,000 conservation projects in 40 countries, dedicating more than $20 million to safeguard global cultural heritage. The announcement of this year's recipients was made at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.
In addition to these major international projects, the grants will also support initiatives such as the restoration of 13 lobby murals at the Apollo Theater in New York and the preservation of "The Palms of the Arc de Triomphe" in Paris. This year's funding highlights the program's expansive global reach and its ongoing commitment to ensuring the longevity of significant artistic treasures for generations to come.