Lin Arison
Philanthropist and Co-Founder
Miami Connection
Lin Arison's founding of YoungArts and the New World Symphony revolutionized Miami's cultural landscape, turning it from a 'cultural wasteland' into a thriving arts destination that retains talent locally. Her $30 million gift to the New World Symphony in 2022 named its concert hall after Michael Tilson Thomas, ensuring long-term support for young musicians. Recognized by the Miami Herald as a visionary leader in arts and culture, her initiatives fostered community enthusiasm and major cultural institutions.
About
Lin Arison, born Marilyn Barbara Arison in 1937, was the widow of Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines in Miami. With Ted, she co-founded the National YoungArts Foundation (formerly National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts) in 1981 to support young artists, addressing Miami's former status as a cultural wasteland. They also established the New World Symphony, a training orchestra led by Michael Tilson Thomas, which has launched numerous professional musicians. Deeply connected to Miami through her husband's business success, she continued her philanthropy after his 1999 death, investing heavily in arts education. She received the National Medal of Arts in 2013 and authored a book on Van Gogh in 2007. Lin Arison passed away on October 1, 2025.