Est. 1976
The Waterman Foundation supports communities and creative traditions — sponsoring programs that connect artists, educators, and the public.
Our Mission
The mission of the Waterman Foundation is to provide a pathway for children's education and to support projects in the arts that spark creativity and imagination.
Our Programs
Peru · Cultural Preservation
A nonprofit based in Peru supporting traditional Andean musicians, muralists, weavers, and embroiderers — preserving living craft traditions and connecting artisans with global educational audiences.
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United States · Functional Ceramics
A functional ceramics program focused on clay art preservation, bringing tactile, meditative craft into community spaces and academic settings across the United States.
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Official selection at the Flagstaff International Film Festival — a documentary following ceramicist Johnny Arvizu, who found kinship in clay across the border wall. Produced by Tolley Rippon and Executive Produced by Andrew Castaneda.
We are currently developing new programming across our projects. Follow us on Facebook to be the first to know when events are announced.
Events
A dual exhibition at Galería de Arte Singona Pumacahua — Robert Singona Pumacahua's solo painting show alongside a collective exhibition of ancestral weaving and natural dyeing by Augusta Pumacahua Pumayalli's textile center.
A two-day gathering of textile artists from across Peru to share techniques and strengthen the conservation of traditional artisanal heritage — celebrating traditional culture and color at the foot of Ausangate mountain.
Colores de Abundancia and Robert Singona Pumacahua invited Peruvian artists (ages 18–33) to paint a large-format mural on the theme Apunchiskunaq Kallpan — "The Strength of Our Mountain Spirits." Winner: Neftali Quispe Huaman, Cusco.
Artist Spotlight
Traditional Weaving · Chinchero, Peru
Master weaver and keeper of Chinchero's textile traditions. Teaches jakima weaving and natural plant dyeing through Colores de Abundancia.
Muralism & Weaving · Chinchero, Peru
Painter and muralist exploring Andean mysticism, and student weaver in his mother Augusta's class. Co-curator of the Ñaupaqman Puriy exhibition, 2025.
Artesanía · Muralism · Pucallpa, Peru
Shipibo Konibo master artisan, healer, and muralist from Pucallpa. Her kené designs encode the paths of life, the energy of nature, and ancestral knowledge passed through generations.
Kené Embroidery & Craft · Paohyan, Peru
Shipibo-Konibo artisan and bilingual teacher from the Amazon. Embroiders kené patterns, creates traditional jewelry, and carries her culture's visual language through every piece she makes.
Our Story
The Waterman Foundation carries the vision of Robert "Bob" Waterman — teacher, actor, and lifelong believer in the power of education. From creating one of the first video-based learning programs used in American classrooms to inspiring the programs that support indigenous artists in Peru today, Bob's life was a continuous experiment in what art and storytelling can do for young minds.
Read Bob's StoryContact
Whether you're a university educator, a prospective partner, or simply curious about the work we support — we'd love to hear from you.
You can also reach us directly at
contact@watermanfoundation.org
