The ATW Board and staff were saddened by the recent passing of Marc Besen AC and extend our sympathy to the Besen family.

Marc along with his wife Eva were generous philanthropists and great supporters of the visual arts including contemporary tapestry.

Founders of the Besen Family Foundation in 1978, providing financial support for initiatives in health and education for the Jewish community, and the visual and performing arts. In 2003, Marc and Eva established Australia’s first major privately funded public art gallery, the TarraWarra Museum of Art in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.

Marc and Eva supported four significant tapestries over the years and in 2011, the Artwork to Tapestry exhibition was displayed at TarraWarra Museum of Art.

The generous support of the Besen Family Foundation in 2020 assisted the ATW and Short Black Opera to present WOVEN SONG as part of Asia TOPA 2020.

The legacy of Marc and Eva Besen lives on through these tapestries and the many opportunities for the Arts community they helped support.