Second round of AER grantees receive $590,000, next application deadline March 18, 2021

Posted on by Alyse Horn

Last month, six organizations were chosen to receive funding from the Collective Action for Re-Imagining grant program. The initiative, managed by New Sun Rising (NSR), has distributed over $700,000 to eight collaboratives since September 2020.

This funding opportunity is for innovative projects in the arts sector that address structural challenges instigated or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, and other needs that cultivate a stronger, healthier, and more equitable arts sector.

The upcoming deadlines for funding are Thursday, March 18 and Thursday, May 6.

The nonprofits that received funding last month include:

  • Lead Org: Hill Dance Academy Theater
    Project: Space and Place
    Funded Amount: $100,000
    Description:This project develops a Black-led and owned cultural arts facility located in the Hill community to provide space and place for Black dance, Africana visual creative arts, and the art of Photography and Media Production.
  • Lead Org: Silver Eye Center for Photography
    Project: SPACE
    Funded Amount: $100,000
    Description: The Small Pittsburgh Arts Coalition for Equity (SPACE), will work to make Pittsburgh’s small visual arts organizations more equitable, by creating the SPACE Fellowship, a leadership development program focused on supporting marginalized people who have not been historically welcomed into the field with mentorship, network building, and leadership training.
  • Lead Org: The Tull Family Theater
    Project: Arthouse + STEM
    Funded Amount: $100,000
    Description: This arts-led effort will connect BIPOC/underrepresented artists and arts organizations with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical fields, seeking to boost a hurting sector with fields differently impacted by COVID.
  • Lead Org: The Genesis Collective
    Project: The Genesis Collective
    Funded Amount: $100,000
    Description: The Genesis Collective (TGC) exists to create a thriving and supportive arts ecosystem in Beaver County. TGC connects regional artists to one another, to the community, and to those resources required for making art an indispensable feature of Beaver County’s identity.
  • Lead Org: Shana Simmons Dance
    Project: Virtual Dance Exchange
    Funded Amount: $100,000
    Description:The Virtual Dance Exchange Project will generate discussion about race and age diversity in dance through creating choreographic works filmed in 360 degree formats, researching the future of dance and the cross section of virtual reality, and creating more accessible programming that addresses diversity in dance specific to Pittsburgh communities.

  • Lead Org: Drinking Partners
    Project: FreshFest
    Funded Amount: $90,000
    Description: The project will provide a Covid-friendly environment for Black artists to thrive creatively and economically through digital media and the craft beer industry.

Made possible through the Arts | Equity | Reimagined Fund, proposed projects must include partnerships or networks composed of two or more 501(c)3 arts organizations, artist-driven projects, and/or unincorporated arts collectives. This program has an upper budget limit of $100,000 for activities that can be completed within 12 months. . 

For more information on the grant funding guidelines and application process, visit https://www.newsunrising.org/arts-equity-reimagined-fund/.