Program/Grant: ArtsHERE

ArtForce Iowa’s ArtsHERE grant will support strengthening internal structures, integrating technology into programming, and fostering new partnerships with schools, youth service agencies, cultural institutions, and more. ArtForce Iowa creates opportunities for youth to transform through art, promoting personal and social development. They serve young people living in detention centers and offer free arts programming for refugee and immigrant youth.

Free Spirit Media’s ArtsHERE grant will fund a "Reimagining Evaluation" project to create new evaluation tools rooted in storytelling, reflection, social justice, and equity. Free Spirit Media partners with young storytellers to transform media and society, with programming that focuses on community-building, skill-sharing, and career and education pathways that support young people to envision and build their futures within the media industry and beyond.

Floyd J. McCree Theatre’s ArtsHERE grant will support the creation of a new strategic plan and community outreach initiatives to increase participation from younger audiences.  Floyd J. McCree Theatre offers educational and cultural programs to enrich the community of Flint, focusing on producing works that reflect the African American experience, including an annual Black History film series and mainstage productions that address the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans

The First Peoples Fund's (FPF) ArtsHERE grant will support programmatic assessments, the creation of data collection tools, and the evaluation of new and expanded programs at FPF and the Oglala Lakota Artspace on Pine Ridge Reservation. First People's Fund honors and supports the cultural, artistic, and ancestral practices of Native artists, families, and communities, helping them to thrive, heal, and carry forward Indigenous creative expression, teachings, and lifeways.

The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s ArtsHERE grant will support assessment, planning, and capacity building as the grassroots nonprofit organization prepares to construct and open the first facility dedicated solely to arts and culture on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The Cheyenne River Youth Project offers Lakota youth and families access to the culturally relevant, enriching, and enduring opportunities they need to build stronger, healthier communities and a more vibrant future.

Azubuike African American Council’s ArtsHERE grant will help bridge the gap in arts and cultural engagement in the Quad Cities through strategic planning, cultural competency training, and marketing to underserved youth of color.  Azubuike provides inspirational and educational opportunities through the arts, aiming to reconcile the racial divides that exist in their community by giving underserved youth a voice to express themselves

ArtMix's ArtsHERE grant will support strategic planning as they continue their growth and expansion. It will also support ASL and Spanish language training for staff as demand for their programs continues to grow. ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art. They serve more than 7,000 people of varying abilities through instructional art classes, arts-based workforce development, artist residencies and opportunities to sell, display, view, and purchase artwork

Kori Art’s ArtsHERE grant will support staff development, leadership training, stakeholder and community engagement activities, and translation services to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with limited English proficiency.  Kori Art is a culture and art-based organization that amplifies community togetherness via international arts performances, training, workshops, and festivals led by New Americans and immigrant artists to connect, preserve, and share their cultural heritage.

Ko-Thi Dance Company’s ArtsHERE grant will support strategic planning, leadership and cultural competency training, community engagement sessions, audience development, and professionally translated materials to increase arts participation and accessibility among Milwaukee’s diverse communities.  Ko-Thi Dance Company preserves, teaches, documents, interprets, and performs dance and music rooted in the cultures of the African Diaspora. Their programming inspires the community to celebrate themselves through African dance and music.

Through grants of $65,000 to $130,000 and peer learning opportunities, this new national initiative invests in organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming.