Community Foundation announces first round of 2021 funding for arts groups

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has announced $1.06 million in grants to Atlanta area arts groups, in its first of two cycles of funding in 2021. A second round will take place before the end of the year.

Applications for the foundation’s Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund will be accepted through November 19.

Roughly 70 percent of the 29 arts organizations to receive grants in this round are either founded by or led by people of color, or else serve those communities. The Foundation said those organizations were prioritized in the first round.

The Foundation faced criticism in March 2020 when its initial round of $580,000 in grants did not include any money for organizations led by people of color. Only 10 percent of Arts Fund grant monies had gone to Black-led organizations since the fund was established in 1993. In its second round of funding in 2020, $1.15 million was distributed to arts groups, and 90 percent of those funds went to organizations founded or led by people of color. Of the 28 recipients, 18 received funding for the first time.

Frank Fernandez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said the organization has focused on how to increase equity across the region in all forms, including the arts. “Through extensive conversations with arts leaders, funders and community members — and the expertise of a national consultant — we have worked to understand both quantitatively and qualitatively what we need to do to ensure the future is better for Atlanta’s arts sector,” Fernandez said in a press release. “You will see us making changes as we implement this re-imagined approach. There is more to do, and we move forward with urgency as we continue to make changes and announce new grants for 2021 and beyond.”

In addition to arts groups, the Foundation also offers grants for community development, education and housing. [Full disclosure: ArtsATL has applied for a grant from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.]

Arts organizations awarded grants in this cycle are:

APEX Museum: $50,000

AREA Non-Profit: $28,000

ArtsXchange: $50,000

Atlanta Artist Relief Fund: $30,000

Atlanta Chamber Players: $25,000

Atlanta Contemporary Art Center: $50,000

Atlanta Music Project: $100,000

Ballethnic Dance Company: $50,000

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation: $30,000

Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts: $10,000

Dashboard Co-Op: $25,000

Dominion Arts Foundation: $40,000

gloATL: $50,000

Gwinnett Council for the Arts: $50,000

MINT: $20,000

Moving in the Spirit: $50,000

National Black Arts Festival: $50,000

Out Front Theatre Company: $20,000

Out of Hand Theater: $50,000

Paint Love: $30,000

Pianos for Peace: $20,000

re:imagine/ATL: $50,000

staibdance: $30,000

Steffen Thomas Museum and Archives: $50,000

The Art Section: $10,000

The Creatives Project: $35,500

The Trey Clegg Singers, $17,000

TILA Studios: $15,000

Wren’s Nest: $30,000