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For More Information:
Eric Gurevich
ericg@fundforthearts.org
502.582.0132
MAYOR FISCHER & FUND FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCE 2019 IMAGINE GREATER LOUISVILLE GRANT RECIPIENTS AND CELEBRATE YEAR ONE PROJECTS
Fifteen schools, groups, and artists received grants
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 14, 2019) – Today, Mayor Greg Fischer, Fund for the Arts, and Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 Steering Committee announced the newest Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 grant recipients and celebrated the successes of Year 1 projects in a press conference at Western Middle School for the Arts. These grants were awarded to 15 schools, groups, and artists to further activate the mission of Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 through the support of Louisville Metro Council.
“Our city’s momentum is being propelled by innovative ideas and a thriving creative sector,” said Mayor Fischer. “I am proud to work with Fund for the Arts and the Imagine Greater Louisville Steering Committee to continue leveraging our world-class cultural assets to drive a more educated, economically vibrant, and compassionate community.”
Established in 2017, Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 (Imagine) is a blueprint built out of the community’s vision for how arts and culture can propel Greater Louisville. The plan resulted from feedback from nearly 5,000 residents of the region, provided by public meetings, interviews, and surveys. In September 2018, Fund for the Arts – the community’s driver of – Imagine announced a call for arts and culture proposals to enact Imagine’s outlined strategies and actions and move the plan forward.
“These grants bring impact and enhance lives in every single one of Louisville Metro Districts,” said Metro Council President David James, D-6. “Working with the arts and culture community allows us to address key community issues such as education and inequity in a smart, resourceful way.”
“The vision proposed by Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 recognizes the significance of a vibrant arts and culture economy for advancing the success of our entire region,” said Christen Boone, president and CEO of Fund for the Arts. “With the support of these grants, a variety of artists and groups can develop innovative projects that nurture this ecosystem, cultivating creative ideas and bringing ‘a greater Louisville’ a little closer to reality. We are sincerely grateful to the Mayor and Metro Council for their forward-thinking investments in the power of the arts.”
The 2019 grantees include:
- Aaron Rosenblum – Kentuckiana Sounds
- Bridge Kids International – 7 Generations
- Center for Neighborhoods – The Parkland Community Vision- The Little Africa Project
- Cochran Elementary School – KMAC Museum Field Trip
- Kentucky Center for the Arts Foundation – Cultural Accessibility Association
- Kentucky Shakespeare, Inc. – Kentucky Shakespeare Festival Workshops
- Looking for Lilith Theatre Company – Just Like Us / Justo Como Nosotros
- The Little Loomhouse – Fiber Arts Program
- Louisville Story Program – Equine Workers Literary Arts Collaboration
- Portland Museum – Portland Wharf Narratives Exhibition
- Rhythm Science Sound – Mixing Matters
- Slaughter Elementary – Revolution Residency
- Saint Joseph Children’s Home – Arts Workshops
- West Louisville Women’s Collaborative, Inc. – Community Jam Sessions
- Yani Vozos – Music Together
Each of the projects that received grants reach each Metro Council District, address at least one of Imagine’s described strategies and actions, and contain methods to track success. More information on the Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 plan can be found at: http://imaginegreaterlou.org. In total, the artists and groups received nearly $50,000 in funding.
“The Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 Steering Committee is grateful to Mayor Fischer and Metro Council for their vision and investment in advancing our region through arts and culture,” said Roger Cude and Penny Peavler, Imagine Co-chairs. “The first year projects unleashed our collective creativity and imagination, and accelerated the work of many artists that directly impacted every metro council district.”
During the event, the Fund and Mayor Fischer also showcased highlights from the 24 first-year projects which delivered impact to residents in every Metro District in Jefferson County through a wide variety of art forms. In total, 32,730 people were served from more than 40 zip codes, in over 100 locations, which accounted for more than 3,000 hours of programming. Projects ranged from a sensory-friendly production of Hamlet at Western Middle School for the Arts and an artist refugee program with Kentucky Refugee Ministries to a new public concert series through the Louisville Federation of Musicians. For more information on first-year projects please visit http://imaginegreaterlou.org.
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 arts grant program in Kentucky as well as conducts one of the oldest united arts campaigns in the country. For more information, visit www.fundforthearts.org.
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