Fund for the Arts Announces Black Artists Fund AND Relief Grants for Black-Owned Restaurants.
Grants will elevate Black Artists and provide critical financial assistance to Black-Owned restaurants.
LOUISVILLE, KY (July 14, 2020) The Fund for the Arts announced today the Black Artists Fund and COVID-19 Relief Grants for Black-Owned Restaurants.
The Black Artist Fund is an initiative to provide grants to fund new works created by Black artists to celebrate, build awareness, and amplify the creations of the many talented Black artists in Greater Louisville. The Black Artists Fund provides grants of $500 to $2,000 to Black artists for the creation of new work across all disciplines and styles (dance, music, design, folk art, theatre, visual arts, poetry, spoken word, literary, etc.). These grants are made possible with support from Yum! Brands and Rabbit Hole Distillery.
Applications are open. Black artists, artist collectives, and/or artist teams located in Greater Louisville may apply. (See Guidelines and Application)
Applicant info sessions are scheduled for July 20th at 1:30 pm and July 29th at 10:00 am via Zoom.
COVID-19 Relief Grants for Black-Owned Restaurants are grants awarded to Black-owned culinary institutions that are pillars in the Greater Louisville community. These grants will also provide critical financial assistance to small, independent, Black-owned restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 national disaster, have an immediate need for funds to pay fixed operating expenses and remain in business.
Applications are open. Black-owned restaurants or Black-owned restaurant groups located in Greater Louisville may apply. (See Guidelines and Application)
The Fund for the Arts supports a full creative life for all and is committed to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable community.
“At this moment in time, to assist in achieving a thriving, vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community, we are committed to investing in, lifting up, and celebrating the voices and work of Black artists,” said Fund for the Arts’ President and CEO Christen Boone.
Through its continued commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Fund for the Arts commissioned the Arts and Race Equity Task Force to guide the organization in its role to advance racial justice and equity across the arts and culture sector, and across the community, and elevate the voices of our Black artists.
The task force is led by Fund for the Arts board member and Papa Johns’ Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and inclusion Victoria Russell, and Louisville based artist, author, poet, and activist Hannah Drake.
“Nina Simone said, ‘An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.’ I look forward to being a part of this task force supporting Black artists that are challenged with reflecting the times we live in, hoping to use their art to bring us to a better place of understanding and healing.”
To apply for Black Artists Fund grants, click here.
To apply for COVID-19 Relief Grants for Black-Owned restaurants, click here
About Fund for the Arts
Fund for the Arts is a regional nonprofit with the mission to maximize the impact of the arts on economic development, education, and quality of life in our community. The Fund is a convener, promoter, leader, and driver of Imagine Greater Louisville 2020, the region’s arts & cultural plan. It facilitates the largest grant program in Kentucky as well as conducts one of the oldest united arts campaigns in the country.
