Americans for the Arts announced today that Mark Golden, CEO and co-founder of Golden Artist Colors, Inc, has been elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term. 

 

“I am thrilled to welcome Mark Golden to our group of dedicated and hard-working board members. He is deeply devoted to the arts and has been supporting artists in their creative endeavors since he established Golden Artist Colors in 1980. Mark’s experience and knowledge of business and the arts will enhance our ability to achieve our goals and greatly contribute to the mission of bringing the arts to all Americans,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. 

 

Golden founded Golden Artist Colors with four employees, his father Sam Golden, mother Adele, and wife Barbara. Originating in a cow barn on his parents’ retirement home in rural Columbus, New York, the company made and delivered custom paint colors for artists in Manhattan. Golden Artist Colors’ staff of full-time employee/owners now numbers 220, with facilities in Columbus, as well as Norwich, New York. The company sells its products in more than 60 countries. 

 

Golden has received many awards and recognitions throughout his career. He was selected as the 1996 Small Business Person of the Year for New York and recognized by President Bill Clinton for his activities in creating a business exemplifying the spirit of Corporate Citizenship, providing a work environment that values all employees. In 2005, he received the NYFA Inspiration Award and was honored by the Manufacturers Association of Central New York with a 2005 Wall of Fame Award; in 2006, an award from the American Institute for Conservation, recognizing his contributions to the art conservation field; in 2014, an honorary doctorate degree from Colgate University for his work in support of the local and international arts community; in 2018, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Art Materials Association; and in April 2019, the Champion of Arts Education Award from the Center for Arts Education for being a visionary in the field.

 

As a company, Golden Artist Colors was recognized by Inc. magazine in 2011 as one of the top 50 small businesses to work for; and in 2012, the company received a BCA 10 award from Americans for the Arts for their creative arts partnerships.

 

To honor their parents, Golden and his family started the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts in 1997. Its mission is to be a significant resource for visual artists and over the next 14 years, the Foundation donated to numerous artists and arts organizations. In 2012, the Foundation opened the Golden Residence, a 10,000-square-foot living and work space for invited artists.

 

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

 

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