New York's Wallace Foundation To Give $53 Million to Arts Organizations of Color

Selected organizations will receive five years of funding between $2-3 million to develop projects that use community-oriented approaches

New York City’s Wallace Foundation announced a five-year, $53 million initiative focusing on arts organizations of color, as part of the foundation’s efforts to foster equitable improvements in the arts.

The initiative will focus on the question: How can and do arts organizations of color, facing strategic challenges, leverage their experience and histories of community orientation to increase their resilience, while sustaining their relevance? 

The Wallace Foundation is a philanthropic organization that "seeks to foster improvements in learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children and the vitality of the arts for everyone," according to its website.

There will be two cohorts of grantees. The foundation is currently seeking applications for an initial cohort of 10 to 12 arts organizations of color.

Selected organizations will receive coaching based on self-identified needs, participate in a peer learning community, and engage in research studies. 

“Equity has long been a central value at Wallace, and we hope this initiative advances that commitment,” said Bahia Ramos, director of arts at The Wallace Foundation. “By listening to and partnering with arts organizations of color, and documenting and studying their work, we hope to highlight their important contributions and better understand the practices that make them matter so deeply to their communities.”

Visit the Wallace Foundation’s site for more details on how to apply.