On Monday, February 3, the arts world lost cultural maven and lifetime arts advocate, Joan Mondale. As the wife of Walter Mondale, vice president to President Jimmy Carter, she used her public position to place a bright spotlight on the vital role that artists and arts organizations play in strengthening American communities. A tireless supporter of the fine arts, President Carter named her honorary chairman of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities during her tenure as "second lady" of the United States. 

Mrs. Mondale has been involved with Americans for the Arts since the 1970s, beginning with her service on our Board of Directors back when we were known as the American Council for the Arts.  In 1977, she was the guest speaker at the tenth annual meeting of the Business Committee for the Arts (now a division of Americans for the Arts). In 2008, we honored her many years of leadership and advocacy with the Public Art Network Award at our Annual Convention (picutred receiving the award here).

Americans for the Arts' President and CEO, Robert Lynch, posted a statement on Joan Mondale's passing to Americans for the Arts' blog, ARTSBlog, and many articles have come out this week commemorating the life and memory of Joan Monadale (click on links below).

Joan Mondale, political wife and culture maven, dies at 83; The Washington Post

Joan Mondale, who merged politics with art, dies at 83; The New York Times

Bill Clinton calls Joan Mondale 'Wise and Graceful'; People

Joan Mondale, former 'second lady' and arts advocate, Dies at 83; TwinCities.com