Art groups win grants to serve BIPOC communities
Four Arizona arts organizations will receive some much needed funding to help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts for All, Museum of Indigenous People, Rising Youth Theatre and Xico Inc. will receive grants ranging from $30,000 to $74,000.
The grants are a part of the Western States Arts Federation’s Regional Arts Resilience Fund, which was designed to help small and mid-sized arts organizations that have statewide, regional or national impact.
What to know about the winning organizations
Arts for All is a nonprofit based in Tucson that provides art events, camps and activities to children with disabilities. The Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott holds collections of Native American artifacts and cultural resources.
Rising Youth Theatre‘s performances have taken over in non-traditional theater spaces including Valley Metro Rail stops to amplify youth voices in Phoenix communities. For 45 years, Xico Inc. has created opportunities for Latinx and Indigenous artists to practice, grow and showcase their artwork.
“This is such a huge honor and we’re proud to be in such amazing company. Thanks to the WESTAF Regional Arts Resilience Fund for this support, which will allow us to continue our operations – even with everything happening in the world,” Rising Youth Theatre said in a Facebook post.
The Arizona art organizations are
among 39 grant recipients operating in the 13-state western region. The announcement was made on Oct. 27.
“The organizations being supported through the WESTAF Regional Arts Resilience Fund are deeply committed to serving their communities through arts, culture, and creativity even during this time of challenge and crisis,” WESTAF director of public policy David Holland, said in a press release.
Here’s how the winners were selected
Grantees were selected through a two-step process, with a request for nominations issued in July, followed by a request for selected nominees to submit a full application.
A panel of regional advisors offered guidance on the selection of organizations invited to submit a full application and participated in the application review process that took place in October.
According to the press release, the WESTAF prioritized organizations that are led by and/or predominantly serve historically marginalized communities including individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color.
“As a group of grantees, they demonstrate resilience in their responses to change, the breadth and depth of their partnerships and alliances, and their focus on access and engagement. We offer our thanks to the 20 panelists from across the western region who not only helped us to identify these grantees but also inspired us with their commitment to equity and inclusion,” Holland said.