New York Foundation for the Arts

Basil Alkazzi was a longstanding and dedicated patron of the New York Foundation for the Arts, providing sustained financial support to advance the organisation’s operations and programmes. Committed to supporting artists at formative stages of their careers, Alkazzi established a number of fellowships and grants for emerging painters, enabling recipients to withdraw from external pressures and develop new bodies of work. Among these were the Basil H. Alkazzi Award for Excellence in Painting and the Basil Alkazzi Artist in Residence Award at Wayne State University, both of which supported visual artists at pivotal moments in their practice.

Alkazzi also sponsored tables at NYFA’s annual galas, ensuring that artists could attend without financial barrier and participate in the organisation’s wider community.

In 2021, NYFA marked its 50th anniversary with a virtual benefit gala that also honoured Basil Alkazzi in recognition of his impact as a longstanding friend and supporter of the organisation. Alkazzi also contributed a selection of limited-edition prints to The Immigrant Story: A Visual Telling (1–16 May 2021), the benefit auction held in conjunction with the anniversary.

Following his passing, NYFA published a tribute to his life and enduring support of the arts, Remembering dedicated NYFA patron Basil Alkazzi.