ST. LOUIS – The Arts and Education Council announced Monday that 11 organizations have been awarded a total of $40,000 in PNC Program Grant funding to help strengthen the region’s arts community. PNC Program Grants – underwritten by the PNC Foundation – provide funding for arts and arts education programs that address community needs.
“The Arts and Education Council, in collaboration with PNC, is proud to support these incredible organizations from across our bi-state region that are creating meaningful multi-disciplined arts experiences,” said Jessireé Jenkins, Arts and Education Council manager of grants and programs. “This was the first year the Arts and Education Council’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Blueprint was used in the selection of grantees with the result being a wonderful group of organizations presenting diverse performances, workshops and educational programs will inspire, connect and enrich the lives of adults and children.”
Since 2012, the Arts and Education Council has awarded more than 200 PNC Program Grants totaling more than $420,000 for arts programs in the St. Louis bi-state region.
“I am very fortunate to belong to an organization that understands and appreciates the intrinsic value of the arts,” said Michael Scully, PNC regional president for St. Louis. “PNC has always believed that engagement in the arts builds stronger, more vibrant communities. That’s certainly the case in St. Louis, where our support comes to life through grants, sponsorships and collaborations. Our approach is guided by the conviction that the arts should be accessible to all audiences – a belief that the Arts and Education Council shares.”
The organizations that have been awarded 2022-2023 PNC Program Grants are, in alphabetical order:
Action Art Collaborative will present their play “ACTION”, which is story of cross-cultural organizing, of working people fighting back against economic disparity, exclusion and segregation.
African Heritage Association of St. Louis Inc. will present the 31st St. Louis African Festival this May in Forest Park bringing together a diverse audience of more than 10,000 visitors to enjoy rich contributions of Africa and the African Diaspora.
Cabaret Project’s Sing Center Stage Workshop encourages young singers be themselves, choose their own material and collaborate directly with professionals in the creative process. The 5-day workshop culminates in a showcase celebration where singers get to perform at a professional venue.
Call to Conscience Theater will tell the story of one of the most significant yet little-noted entertainment venues in St. Louis history in the play “Live at Club Riviera”. Club Riviera was an oasis for African American entertainers to perform and practice their craft to an often-integrated audience and get paid well to do it.
Community Performance Ensemble will host three Dance and Drumming Workshops in East St. Louis that are intended to get more young people interested in their own cultural traditions, and the performing arts, in general.
House of Pais’ Children of Promise program is for youth with developmental disabilities to assist in emotional regulation, inclusion, identity of self and independent social functioning through creative, artistic measures.
Inner Ear Youth Orchestra will host sessions of orchestra classes for elementary and middle school students in East St. Louis. New musicians will have the opportunity to become oriented with ensemble playing and to perform a final concert for the public.
Jacoby Arts Center will provide an opportunity for the public to explore the arts through free open art lab hours. Their Art Labs are multi-disciplinary and explore a range of art mediums and expressions including visual, music and performing arts.
Macoupin Arts Collective will expand their ArtReach program that provides free and low-cost art instruction to students, especially to those who don’t have access to art outside of their calendar school year.
Pianos for People will expand the reach of their two piano schools in South St. Louis and Ferguson by offering free piano lessons in partnership with local agencies to reach a new audience of all ages.
Prison Performing Arts’ Learning Through the Arts program offers year-round performing arts classes to youth and young adults who are currently in prison or detention facilities ─ with the goal of creating opportunities to reveal their talents, intelligence and humanity to themselves, their families and the wider community.
Applications were reviewed by a volunteer panel of the Arts and Education Council’s Grants and Programs Committee and representatives from the PNC Foundation.
For more information about the Arts and Education Council’s PNC Program Grants, visit KeepArtHappening.org.