The Joan Mitchell Foundation has released Creating Future Memory: Building the Field of Artist Legacy Stewardship, an 80-page report exploring how artists' work, archives and cultural contributions can be sustained across generations.
Developed through the foundation's long-running Creating a Living Legacy initiative, the publication draws on insights from a 2025 gathering in New York that convened 145 artists, archivists, conservators, estate representatives, funders and foundation leaders.
Three priorities for cultural continuity
The report identifies three key areas for strengthening artist legacy stewardship: access to knowledge, funding and resources, and coordination and collaboration. It argues that preserving an artistic legacy is not a single task, but an ongoing practice involving complementary expertise across the cultural sector.
Foundation leaders emphasize that artists, families, institutions and arts professionals all have a role in maintaining records, caring for works and expanding public understanding of creative practices. The report aims to make this often behind-the-scenes work more visible while encouraging broader exchange between people already active in the field.
Alongside the publication, the foundation has introduced the Legacy Field Map, a growing, community-informed resource designed to connect organizations supporting artist estates, archives and long-term cultural care. Submitted organizations will be reviewed before being added to the network.
By combining practical knowledge with stronger professional connections, the initiative positions legacy stewardship as a shared cultural responsibility. Its expanding network could help more artists' ideas, archives and influence remain accessible for future audiences.
