Sun Foundation

Mission and Vision

Our mission is to strengthen and advance the arts and environmental sciences in our community by providing innovative, high-quality programs, services, publications, research, regranting financial support, and cooperative efforts for the general public, underserved groups, schools, artists, and arts organizations.

The Sun Foundation is organized exclusively for education, scientific, and charitable purposes. Specifically, the Foundation researches, designs, produces, and disseminates educational materials that advance and develop integrative and interdisciplinary studies between artists and scientists and the understanding thereof, to enable humankind to live in harmony with nature, by securing a quality environment for all life, thereby enriching the human condition.

Since 1973, the Sun Foundation has nourished new talents for the arts and environmental sciences in three generations of young stewards for planet Earth.

History

During the late 1960s, many segments of our community did not have access to the arts because of economics, geographical location, or lack of exposure. Artists had limited access to schools, community centers, other artists and professionals working in other disciplines. The arts were not acknowledged as part of elementary and secondary curriculum; most elementary schools did not have an art curriculum or an art teacher. There was a need for an organizational structure to foster new talents and audiences for the arts and integrate the arts into other disciplines. There was also a need to foster cooperation between, artists, arts groups, businesses, schools and the community for joint efforts and sharing of resources.

Joan and Bob, Our Founders

As multidisciplinary artists, teachers, and environmentalists, Bob and Joan Ericksen founded the Sun Foundation as a way to better connect artists, environmental scientists, and their community. For decades, they’ve worked to overcome economic, political, and geographic barriers to foster new talents in students and advance integrative work in the arts and sciences. Their efforts have formed the welcoming and inspiring community that is the Sun Foundation.