A longtime supporter of the Cultural Council and a steadfast member for over 20 years, Ellen Liman has dedicated her life in support of the arts.

Born and raised in New York City, Liman was interested in painting from an early age, eventually graduating from Barnard College after studying at several art schools, including the Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Students League, Columbia University and the National Academy of Design.

Now, you can see the fruits of her lifelong labor yourself at the Liman Gallery in Palm Beach, where she’s been championing the work of local and international artists for nearly 19 years.

Since becoming a Cultural Council member in 1995, Liman has supported the organization in many ways, including the biennial Muse Awards. While discussing why she’s been a supporter over the years, Liman says “I think the work that the Cultural Council does on behalf of [cultural organizations] is really critical, not just because it enhances the life of transient and full-time residents young and old, but also because I think that [the arts] are a great economic engine.”

Liman was recently featured at this season’s first Culture & Cocktails event, where she interviewed her son and renowned film director, Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity,” “American Made,” “Swingers”). On that experience, she says “I think that Culture & Cocktails is another really important service as a means of educating the public about the Council…so I was very honored to ask my son to do this. And, how often does a parent get to interview a child in front of the public? I know that everybody loves stories about films, so I think they really had a good time.”

“Any donations made to the Cultural Council are really magnified because it helps the general business environment,” says Liman on why other potential donors should support the Council.