MONTGOMERY, Ala., (September 12, 2023) — At its September quarterly meeting in Montgomery, Ala., the Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded 194 grants totaling $3,207,800 to 155 organizations across the state.
The grants, distributed following a highly competitive process, are set to make a profound impact on the arts landscape by supporting public programs in arts education, community arts, folk arts, literary arts, dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. A portion of these funds will go towards innovative public offerings and educational programs, while others will help preserve and highlight artistic traditions through festivals, concerts, exhibitions, artist residencies, and workshops.
This year, the Council on the Arts welcomed 11 new additions to its longstanding Operating Support program. These organizations can now strengthen their institutions, knowing that essential expenses are backed by the Council’s support.
Dr. Elliot Knight, Executive Director of the Council, emphasized the pivotal role of funding in fostering a vibrant arts scene throughout Alabama: “The funds awarded through our grantmaking process serve as investments in our creative economy, and strengthen cultural expression, provide curriculum-based arts education for students, and increase lifelong learning opportunities for all citizens.”
The grants are in response to applications submitted under a June 1, 2023, deadline and are awarded for the 2024 fiscal year (October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024). The next grant application deadline is March 1, 2024, for individual artist fellowships and grants for planning, design, and construction of arts facilities. The application portal will open on January 1, 2024. More grant awards will be announced in early December.
For more information and to stay up to date on the Alabama State Council on the Arts’ initiatives, please visit arts.alabama.gov.
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