Prebys Foundation Announces $5.7M Grant to Local Arts Organizations – San Diego Union-Tribune

It’s no secret that many arts organizations in San Diego County have been struggling since the pandemic.

As restrictions on indoor gatherings were lifted in 2021, most nonprofit arts organizations faced rising rent and labor costs, a surge in production expenses, and a sharp decline in attendance, subscriptions, and donations as arts event attendees adapted to meeting their entertainment needs at home.

But one lifeline that has helped them gradually recover is the Conrad Prebys Foundation, which last year announced $16 million in initiatives to help local arts organizations. Today, the foundation announced another $5.7 million in grants to be distributed to 38 local arts nonprofits over the next two years. The goal of the grants is to help these organizations expand their audiences, increase their capacity, increase their relevance and promote long-term sustainability.

“When combined with the Prebys 2023 Arts Grantees, these organisations provide a more complete picture of the region’s arts and culture ecosystem, reflecting our commitment to creating a robust and inclusive cultural landscape,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of the Prebys Foundation, in a statement.

The three largest recipients are the La Jolla Music Society, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Old Globe, which each received grants of $325,000. San Diego Arts Matters received $260,000; the Museum of Us received $250,000; and $200,000 each were awarded to the San Diego Opera, Cygnet Theatre, Friends of Friendship Park, the Asian Culture and Media Alliance, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

Imperial Beach Arts Bureau received $195,000, Mainly Mozart received $180,000, and $150,000 each was awarded to the San Diego Museum Council, NTC Foundation/Arts District Liberty Station, Mingei International Museum, Center for World Music, Blindspot Collective and Asian Story Theater.

TuYo Theatre received $140,000; Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego and Trinity One Theatre received $130,000. Pacific Arts Movement, Casa Familiar and Barona Culture Center & Museum received $125,000 each; and La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation received $120,000. Classics 4 Kids received $110,000. Organizations that received $100,000 each were Borrego Art Institute, New Village Arts, Outside the Lens, Playwrights Project, Prophet World Beat Productions, San Diego Performing Arts League and High Steppers Drill Team.

Groups that received $80,000 or less were: INSITE, Loud Fridge Theatre Group, OnStage Playhouse, Wheelchair Dancers Organization and Write Out Loud.

Cathlyn Choi is the founder and executive director of the Asian Culture and Media Alliance, a 14-year-old media arts and education program dedicated to promoting and empowering local Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. She said the $200,000 Prebys grant will allow the organization to significantly expand its capacity to offer clients opportunities in the arts, media and cultural preservation fields, including film, television, radio and youth media arts.

Micah Parzen, CEO of the Museum of Us, said the $250,000 grant will be used, among other things, to create an exhibition called “Race: Power, Resistance, and Change,” which will showcase work by regional Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) artists.

New Village Arts Executive Director Kristianne Kurner said the Carlsbad theater and performing arts company will use the $100,000 grant to support staff diversity and build a sustainable future.

Kiran Shelat, executive director of Classics 4 Kids, said the organization will use the $110,000 grant to expand its live orchestra performances, virtual music programs and school events focused on music education for children.

Sara Beckman, executive director of Outside the Lens, said the $100,000 grant will be used to expand media arts training for teens, creating pathways for careers, college and further development.

Blake McCarty, artistic director of Blindspot Collective, said the $150,000 grant will help find a permanent production space to create and present inclusive, community-focused original theatre productions.

Originally published: August 1, 2024 at 5:30 AM