We're thrilled to share the news that the Wallace Foundation has just launched a five-year, $53 million initiative focused on arts organizations of color. Some key information from their
information hub:
- This new initiative is part of Wallace’s efforts to help foster equitable improvements in the arts, recognizing that leaders of arts organizations of color report their contributions are often overlooked and underfunded.
- Wallace seeks to form an initial cohort of 10 to 12 arts organizations of color, which they define as "organizations that were founded by and for communities of color."
- Each grantee in the first cohort will receive five years of funding totaling approximately $2 to 3 million to develop and pursue efforts to foster strategic change through approaches that leverage their community orientation. Grantees will also receive coaching based on self-identified needs, participate in a peer learning community and engage in research studies to advance knowledge and lift up the field.
- The initiative will include a second, larger cohort designed specifically for organizations with smaller budgets. Timing, eligibility criteria and the work that the second cohort will engage in will be determined at a later date.
- Bahia Ramos' blog post sharessome of values guiding the initiative, including: "We acknowledge the limitations of our experience in this area, and we recognize that the core expertise lies with arts organizations of color themselves. They know their strengths and what resonates with their communities, and have important insights about what might be useful for the field. The initiative, therefore, will begin with a planning year during which we will work with the cohort to further define our work together."
Here are some of the key links for your reference:
We're excited to work with the Wallace Foundation as they move this new initiative forward!