RI Foundation offers grants to boost small arts and cultural organizations

Small arts and cultural organizations from the minority community have until July 20 to apply for grants of up to $30,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation through its Expansion Arts Program.  “We believe in the value of nourishing the artistic and cultural traditions of communities of color,” said Daniel Kertzner, who oversees the program for the Foundation.

The program targets emerging organizations whose programs and mission center on the cultural practices and traditions of Rhode Island’s diverse communities. The goal is to provide the skills and tools these groups need to grow as equal partners in the Rhode Island arts and cultural sectors. “In seeking to build the capacity of these organizations, we recognize the broader role they play in strengthening their communities, including cultural preservation, education and youth development,” said Kertzner.

The program is a partnership between the Foundation, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH) and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA).

Up to four organizations will be selected to receive $10,000 annually over the course of the three-year program. Priority will be given to start-up groups and groups that do not already have a funding relationship with the Foundation, RICH or RISCA.

The program is designed to foster greater connections across the arts and humanities as well as provide leadership and professional development for a broader network of diverse arts and cultural organizations.
In addition, consultants will work with the groups to help them build knowledge and expertise in the areas of financial management, marketing and audience development, leadership development and strategic collaborations.

The last round of funding was awarded in 2015. The recipients were the Colombian American Cultural Society, Cape Verdean Heritage Sub-Committee, India Association of Rhode Island and Laotian Community Center of Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $38 million and awarded $43 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2017. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.