ST. LOUIS, MO – The Arts and Education Council together with Ameren Missouri announce the recipients of the AmerenCares Equity in the Arts Philanthropic Grant Program. Grant recipients will be awarded a collective total of nearly $125,000 in 2023-24. This grant program was created to provide funding to historically underrepresented and underfunded nonprofit organizations that are racially and ethnically diverse.
AmerenCares Equity in the Arts is a unique and focused example of a shift in philanthropic giving practices that are designed to proactively and deliberately meet the needs of under-resourced and historically underrepresented nonprofits that have evidence of racially and diverse leadership.
“Equity is valued greatly by both Ameren and the Arts and Education Council. We are proud to partner together to fund organizations impacting the St. Louis region, making it better for all of us. In the second year of their generous support, Ameren has been a catalyst for positive change, enabling us to support initiatives that promote equality and empower underrepresented communities. This commitment to fostering diversity not only transforms lives but also strengthens the fabric of our shared community,” said Jessireé Jenkins, Interim Executive Director for the Arts and Education Council. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity to deepen our reach within communities and organizations that have not yet had the opportunity to develop a relationship with the Arts and Education Council.”
“These 18 organizations are being recognized as AmerenCares Equity in the Arts grantees for their diversity in the arts, arts performance, and arts education programming throughout Missouri,” said Sarah Kramer, Ameren’s Director of Corporate Contributions and Community Initiatives. “In partnering with the Arts and Education Council to reward these organizations, we’re growing arts accessibility and helping our region to thrive.”
The organizations and programs that have been awarded 2023-2024 AmerenCares Equity in the Arts grants are, in alphabetical order:
- African Heritage Association
- Artists First
- DreamTree573
- Ferguson Youth Initiative
- Film Camp USA
- Freedom Arts & Education Center
- Gateway Outreach Music
- HEAL Center for the Arts
- Hispanic Heritage
- Intercultural Music Initiative
- InvestSTL
- Kimbilio
- Pointe of Surrender
- Soulard School
- Louis Artworks
- Story Stitchers
- WerqFest
- Youth Arts & Technology Center
Applications were reviewed by the Arts and Education Council’s Grants Advisory Panel and representatives from Ameren.
For more information about the Arts and Education Council’s grants and programs, visit our website: Keep Art Happening | Arts and Education Council of St. Louis
About the Arts and Education Council
The Arts and Education Council ensures the 16-county, bi-state region is rich with arts and cultural experiences for all through programs and services that support more than 60 organizations each year, including: Arts and Education Fund for Teachers; Bayer Fund Rural Community Arts Program; AmerenCares – Equity in the Arts. The Arts and Education Council is entirely funded by individual donors, corporations and foundations in the St. Louis region. Since its inception in 1963 as the region’s only privately-supported united arts fund, the Arts and Education Council has raised and distributed more than $100 million in private funding for the arts – a significant contribution that directly impacts the quality of life in our region. The Arts and Education Council meets all 20 Better Business Bureau Charity Standards and has earned the Wise Giving Seal of Approval, a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Guidestar Exchange Gold Participant rating. Connect with us – Website: Keep Art Happening | Arts and Education Council of St. Louis; Phone: 314.289.4000; Facebook: ArtsandEducation Twitter: @ArtEdSTL Instagram: Arts_Education_Council LinkedIn: Arts-Education-Council
About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services, and natural gas distribution services. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois operates a rate-regulated electric transmission business in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
For more information, visit Ameren.com or follow on Twitter at
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Facebook.com/AmerenCorp or
LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.
Arts and Education Council
- 3207 Washington Avenue
- St. Louis, MO 63103-1014
- 314.289.4000
- www.keeparthappening.org