VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission in partnership with the Cultural Affairs Department announced the Community Cultural Arts Grant Application for Fiscal Year 2020 is now open.
This grant is expected to support arts-based projects that represent the changing communities. The goal of the projects should be bringing communities together to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity. The projects should increase access to arts experiences and artists from diverse creative traditions and should aim to increase understanding, acceptance and positive regard among our communities.
With the local resident population rapidly diversifying, a high strategic priority in the Virginia Beach Arts Plan 2030 is to develop and promote greater diversity of offerings, particularly in the area of culturally/ethnically specific arts.
"The Cultural Affairs Department is committed to expanding culturally diverse arts and humanities-based activities in Virginia Beach to directly fulfill the City Council's goal to be an inclusive community that is welcoming and empowers all," says Cultural Affairs Director Emily Labows. "The Commission is intentionally providing opportunities for organizations to foster understanding and engagement between diverse communities as they broaden available arts and cultural experiences."
The Community Cultural Arts Grant program supported five innovative and connective programs in FY 2019 and is poised to support more culturally rooted creativity in 2020.
he grant will have two deadlines to allow for emerging organizations or programs that have not yet been defined to participate in the later selection.
- Round 1 deadline for submission is Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. Requests from this round will be deliberated in January 2020 and awarded immediately following the decision.
- Round 2 deadline is Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Requests from this round will be deliberated in March 2020 and awarded immediately following the decision.
Funds must be used by June 30, 2020. The grant program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose mission is to represent, promote and develop arts programming derived from culturally and ethnically authentic sources, traditions, and inspiration.
