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Wallace Foundation Arts Initiative Open Call

Posted by Wallace Foundation ; Posted on 
DEI; Funding - DEADLINE :  
Wallace Foundation Arts Initiative Open Call
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Wallace Foundation is launching a five-year, $53 million initiative focused on arts organizations of color.​ 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.

The initiative will include multiple research studies that document the histories and organizational cultures of participating organizations and study how these organizations' community-oriented approaches address strategic challenges. Questions and approaches will be refined in collaboration with cohort organizations.

The dual goals of the initiative are: 1) to support grantees in their work; and 2) by learning with and from grantees, to develop insights that can be shared with other arts organizations of color and the broader field to help improve practice and policy.

At this time, Wallace seeks to form an initial cohort of 10 to 12 arts organizations of color who meet eligibility requirements and are:

  • Interested in or planning to make strategic changes using community-oriented approaches;
  • Committed to contributing to the research base on the history and current practices of arts organizations of color; and
  • Interested in and well-suited to learn from other arts organizations 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.

Before submitting, we encourage interested organizations to review the FAQ and/or sign up for one of our personalized information sessions.​​

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration in the first cohort, organizations must:

  • Be based in the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico; ​
  • Be a registered nonprofit organization, or have an existing nonprofit fiscal sponsor;
  • Have an annual budget between $500,000 and $5 million (based on FY 2019 or FY 2020);
  • Have been in operation for at least 10 years; and
  • Identify as an arts organization of color.

​For the purposes of this initiative, we define an arts organization of color as one that was founded by (in either artistic or administrative leadership) and for Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, Arab American or Asian American/Pacific Islander communities through mission-related work, and continues to serve those communities today.

Submissions from the following genres will be considered: performing arts, media arts, literary arts, visual arts, artists, community-based organizations founded by and centering artists and artistic practice. Heritage museums of color that include contemporary art and artists are eligible.​

Organizations whose primary mission is arts education, youth outcomes, professional development or continuing education are not eligible for this initiative. Wallace has separate initiatives in arts education. This initiative will focus on arts presenters with a reasonable degree of similarity so we can effectively manage the initiative and learn from their experiences.

Resources

Resources and Support

Schedule a personalized, 15-minute conversation with Wallace program and research staff:

 Conversation 1, with Christine Yoon, senior program officer, and Amy Gedal Douglass, research officer
 Conversation 2, with Bahia Ramos, director of arts, and Amy Gedal Douglass, research officer
 Conversation 3, with Bahia Ramos, director of arts, and Bronwyn Bevan, director of research
 Conversation 4, with Christine Yoon, senior program officer, and Bronwyn Bevan, director of research

Read the initiative FAQ.​

​​​Submit​ your expression of interest

Read the research RF​P​​ ​​

Still have questions? Email us at: ArtsOpenCall@wallacefoundation.org

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