By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica nonprofit organizations this year are getting some much-needed cash. The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has announced it will give out a record $4.5 million in grants to 228 nonprofit arts organizations for fiscal year 2006-07 through its organizational grant program — $2 million of which will go to Santa Monica organizations.
In June, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a doubling of the appropriation for grants to nonprofit arts organizations. The 2006-07 grant awards are the first to reflect that increase.
With additional grant funds, the Arts Commission was able to provide a greater degree of assistance to local arts organizations in several ways simultaneously: Grants were made to 29 more arts organizations than in 2005-06 (a 15-percent increase); the average grant size increased, and for the first time, two-year commitments were made to organizations with budgets exceeding $100,000.
Approximately half of the grantees have received two-year awards for 2006-07. Two-year awards will enhance organizational stability and reduce the administrative burden for arts organizations, county officials. The remainder of the grantees will receive two-year awards in the next grant cycle, with all grantees receiving multi-year awards by 2007-08.
“These arts grants are an investment in intellectual creativity,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. “They fund employment opportunities and afford access to cultural experiences for all county residents, regardless of their economic circumstances. The arts foster understanding, insight and empathy — a field of endeavor that doesn’t just produce financial wealth, but increases our value as individual human beings and as a community.”
Organizational arts grants by Los Angeles County for 2006-07 broken down by size of organization: Small budget organizations (under $100,000): 70 grants totaling $513,200. Mid-size budget 1 organizations: ($100,000-$500,000): 82 grants totaling $816,700. Mid-size budget 2 organizations: ($500,000-$1,500,000): 43 grants totaling $1,176,300.
Large budget organizations: (more than $1,500,000): 33 grants totaling $2,011,800. Grant size ranged from $2,000 to $254,800. All are two-year grants. In addition, 55 organizations in the small budget category will receive $174,500 in 2006-07, for the second year of their two-year grants awarded in 2005-06. With the new grants, 283 arts organizations will receive county funds this fiscal year.
Santa Monica grantees: 18th Street Arts Complex: $15,100 To support creation and exhibition of new work by mid-career artists. American Youth Symphony: $14,500 To support the development and expansion of the outreach program. Apollo Amused: $26,600 To support season expansion, which includes the addition of two performances (Messiah, St. Mathew Passion;) workshops for musicians; expansion of educational outreach.
California Lawyers for the Arts: $12,100 To support for administrative staff for expanded programs, including forums on the arts and new youth internships.
Highways: $14,800 To support a development associate to expand corporate, foundation and individual fundraising.
Los Angeles Chamber Ballet: $6,400.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2006. Read the original PDF.