Friend, advocate, and adamant supporter of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Bert Korman passed away on July 1, 2020. The Cultural Council for Palm County’s board of directors and staff are truly saddened by the loss of this great man and arts advocate, and our hearts are with his family and especially his wife, Sallie, during this difficult time.

Bert Korman long served Palm Beach County’s cultural sector through his work with the Cultural Council as a passionate advocate for arts education and a sharp-minded leader eager to assist nonprofits partner with local businesses.

For over a decade, Bert was a member of the Cultural Council’s board of directors, serving as board chair from 2012 to 2016. In 2013, Bert and Sallie worked with the Cultural Council to start the Korman Cultural Expedition Fund. The program was designed to work with the School District of Palm Beach County to send children on field trips to experience art and culture for the first time. The two also contributed their name to the multipurpose room in the Cultural Council’s headquarters in Downtown Lake Worth Beach: the Berton and Sallie Korman Education and Training Center.

When it comes to supporting the cultural sector in Palm Beach County, Bert described his philosophy: “There are many reasons to support [culture] here. It’s very good for the young people. It’s very good for the economy. It’s very good for everybody. We provide a lot of jobs and, quite frankly, I think the quality of life here is a direct result of what [we] have to offer. It’s about more than sunshine and beaches and it’s evolving, that’s for sure.”