From July 1-August 29, 2022, RedLine Contemporary Art Center will be accepting Arts in Society grant applications for cross-sector projects that engage the arts to address or raise awareness of civic, social and community-informed challenges statewide.
An online information session will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at noon for interested applicants. To register visit here.
Over the last five years, the Arts in Society grant program has provided over $3 million to projects that foster cross-sector work through the arts by supporting the integration of arts and culture into multiple disciplines critical to the health and well-being of Coloradans. In this round of funding, grants between $5,000-$35,000 will be available to non-profit organizations, individual artists or activists to fund projects that will take place in Colorado between January 2023-January 2025. Between 25-30 grants are made in each cycle.
Chrissy Deal, Director of the Livingston Fellowship and Arts & Social Change grantmaking with Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, reflects on Arts in Society’s impactful model: “As an early funder of the program that guided much of the program’s development in its formative years, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation sees tremendous value in supporting this statewide grant program. It is in complete alignment with the foundation’s beliefs that art is a key strategy in addressing critical social issues and a powerful tool in improving the quality of life and well-being for communities where disparities can be significant – BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, rural or remote locations. As a partner, we look forward to another year of inspiring community-informed projects and collaborations.”
Margaret Hunt, Director of Colorado Creative Industries says, “We are delighted to join other funders and partners to advance funding opportunities for artists, arts organizations and nonprofits at the intersection of arts, education and social justice. While Colorado Creative Industries has been providing grants to organizations for over 50 years, this collaboration with other funders allows us to expand our reach by leveraging state funding with foundations and arts partners to have an even greater impact at this critical time.”
Grants are determined by a selection panel composed of community members, funders and previous grantees coming from across Colorado. Panelists seek projects that best demonstrate cross-sector work, exhibit cultural relevance, foster community engagement, present opportunities for shared learning, illustrate artistic relevance, and broaden the understanding of the role arts play in society.
Tariana Navas-Nieves, Director of Cultural Affairs for Denver Arts & Venues and one of the newest funding partners to the collaboration shares, “We know the importance of art and culture in advancing our social and civic wellbeing and the Arts in Society grant program is an excellent way to support projects that help us collectively identify opportunities to strengthen our communities, and face critical social challenges in creative ways. We are proud to be one of the funding partners of Arts in Society as it will take collective action to ensure our communities thrive.”
Current grantee, Courtney Ozaki of the Japanese Art Newtowork (JA-NE) shares, “JA-NE is grateful to programs like Arts in Society for allowing us to share how Japanese arts may help to universally connect people, cross boundaries, and create opportunities for intersectional collaboration between traditional and modern art forms and cultural communities of the global majority.”
She adds, “I encourage others to consider the impact they’d like to make, and what partnerships might strengthen how their project connects through deep understanding and relationship with a target community to allow for authenticity and meaningful collaboration. I also encourage applicants to allow themselves to be inspired and motivated by all of the incredible projects that have been recipients of this grant over time!”
Arts in Society is a collaborative funding program administered by RedLine Contemporary Art Center, and supported by the following partners: Bonfils-Stanton Foundation (2017-present), Hemera Foundation (2017-2020), Colorado Creative Industries (2017-present), Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) (2020), The Colorado Health Foundation (2020 - Present) and Denver Arts & Venues (2021-present).