The Ruth Foundation for the Arts, also known as Ruth Arts, is a non-profit philanthropic arts organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that supports artists and organizations through grants and invite-only initiatives.
[1] Ruth Arts supports organizations throughout the United States while maintaining extra attention and support to the midwest due to Ruth DeYoung Kohler II's lifelong advocacy for the Midwest’s artistic community.
[1][5][6] Karen Patterson, former senior curator at John Michael Kohler Arts Center and director of exhibitions at The Fabric Workshop and Museum, is the Executive Director.
[5][7] The program director of artistic initiatives is Kim Nguyen, former curator and head of programs at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco.
[9] In 2024, Ruth Arts established the Ruth Award, giving $100,000 to four artists: Kite, Candice Lin, Joe Minter, and Rose B.