Keith Haring Foundation Names Simon Castets, Former Director of Swiss Institute, as Next Executive Director

"In 2025, the organization disbursed $7.7 million in grants, including $1 million to the Studio Museum in Harlem, for its recently opened new building, and $3 million to Bard College's Center for Curatorial Studies for its new Keith Haring Wing."

"Primarily, however, the foundation is known for providing smaller grants to dozens of charities for at-risk youth and education, research, and care related to HIV/AIDS, including Planned Parenthood, GMHC, and Callen-Lorde."

""Keith had such a drive, despite his short career, to make a difference and to stand up for his ideals, and he was unbelievably successful at doing that," Castets said."

"Art and activism were "always integrated in his understanding of art," he added."

Simon Castets will begin as executive director of the Keith Haring Foundation on January 12, bringing experience from Luma Arles and the Swiss Institute in New York. The role includes stewardship of Haring's work and archives and management of an active grant-making program. In 2025 the foundation disbursed $7.7 million in grants, including major gifts to the Studio Museum in Harlem and Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies, while continuing regular smaller grants to charities serving at-risk youth and HIV/AIDS-related care and research. The foundation will provide loans and scholarly support for multiple upcoming exhibitions of Haring’s work.

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