The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved $500,000 in arts grants for organizations focused on delivering mental health, disability, environmental, homeless, immigrants rights, youth and veterans services.
The Arts Commission fielded more than $1.3 million in requests for funding from 78 eligible organizations under the first Community Impact Arts Grant program.
Supervisor Hilda Solis said the program is designed to “assure access to the arts for all,” making art available to residents outside of museums and other traditional settings.
There are practical reasons to broaden access, Solis told colleagues, saying that one in six jobs countywide is in the arts.
“A diverse pipeline, one that begins at an early age, is critical,” Solis said.
Grant applications were scored based on artistic merit, service to the community, evaluation methodology and fiscal and administrative competence.
Those chosen are set to receive, on average, 57 percent of what they requested, according to the commission.
Nonprofit organizations will use the monies to pay for classes, workshops and exhibits covering music, dance, photography, jewelry making, writing, painting and theater.
The commission is expected to announce specific grantees within the next day or so.
–City News Service