Supporting Diverse Arts Spaces
Overview
The goal of this work is to promote a new generation of 21st-century arts spaces and arts leadership that reflect the cultural richness of diverse communities.
The Challenge
Arts and culture play a vital role in helping to create more just and vibrant societies. They inspire innovation and imagination, encourage civic dialogue and reflect the rich diversity of our nation's changing demographics. Many communities, particularly in times of economic downturn, lack affordable facilities where artists and arts organizations can incubate and produce creative works and engage more widely with the public.
What We're Doing
Our work supports the creation of a new generation of arts leadership and facilities that are firmly grounded in the communities in which they reside and that are models of artistic innovation, cultural and community collaboration, and social partnership.
We focus on emerging and established institutions that are recognized as powerful forces within their communities and are developing unique and vitally needed facilities that match the dignity of their creative work. We are also providing resources—intellectual, physical, technical and financial—to support arts leaders who nurture creativity, share knowledge and build capacity in the arts community.
Learn more about how our strategies and approaches shape our grant making.
From the Newsroom
- WQXR's Arts File: Ford Announces New Arts Grants New York public radio program speaks with Ford Foundation president and grantees of the Supporting Diverse Arts Spaces initiative
- Grants Nurture Arts Spaces and Housing New York Times reports on new initiative to promote cultural diversity, public discourse and free expression through 21st century arts spaces
- Ford Launches $100 Million Initiative to Develop Arts Spaces Foundation announces new 10-year, $100 million initiative to support a new generation of arts spaces






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