In partnership with the Hope College Art Department, CultureWorks was awarded $43,000 of a $49,000 grant aimed at celebrating and increasing BIPOC engagement in the visual arts in FY2022-23.
As we wrap up our fullest summer of programming to date, we’re thrilled to announce that CultureWorks is receiving a Mellon Foundation Community-Based Initiatives grant in conjunction with the Hope College Art Department! This joint award of $49,000 will allow CultureWorks and Hope College to pursue new initiatives aimed at increasing culturally diverse representation in the visual arts and empowering our local community by:
- Increasing hours and wages for hiring a full-time BIPOC Program Director who will oversee ongoing strategic partnerships and help provide greater access to arts programming for traditionally underrepresented communities
- investing in the mentoring and equipping of BIPOC youth in after-school classes using art and design-based projects to develop skills in critical thinking, innovation, and engagement as global citizens
- supporting and empowering diverse leadership (staff, interns, and visiting artists), and the development of curriculum that celebrates multicultural and multiethnic heritages
- funding the creation of a visiting artist program committed to bringing in artists that accurately reflect the diversity of participating students
- outfitting the CultureWorks studio with one-time purchases of industry-standard equipment, work surfaces, and organizational systems, thereby increasing capacity and efficiency, while providing a suitable workspace for visiting professional artists.
Many thanks to the Mellon Foundation and Hope College for making these initiatives possible!
