The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC) announced it will award $3,723,212 in funding to 122 organizations in St. Louis City and County.
A diverse array of organizations including Festivals of Nations, Frizzy By Nature, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, National Blues Museum, the Hispanic Festival, Jazz St. Louis, St. Louis African Chorus, St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature, and more are receiving RAC support.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis for their generous support, which empowers us to create bold, joyful, and thought-provoking theatre for young audiences,” said Jacqueline Thompson, Metro Theater Company artistic director, a 2025 grant recipient.
“With this funding, we’re not only telling stories – we’re celebrating the brilliance of St. Louis artists, honoring the spirit of our youth, and deepening our commitment to service through the arts.”
The missions and programming of RAC grantees offer both residents and visitors a wide range of world-class entertainment, educational, and community building opportunities for multi-generational audiences interested in all sorts of creative disciplines, including theater, music, dance, and visual arts.
“RAC is a vibrant organization that connects and nurtures the arts in St. Louis, enabling many arts groups and artists to flourish and serve our community through programming and community engagement efforts,” said Zackary Petot, executive and artistic director for the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, another 2025 grant recipient.
“We are honored to receive this grant. RAC allows us to continue offering free exhibitions, public programs, youth and senior art classes, and community partnerships that make the arts more inclusive and impactful for all.”
Other grantee organizations and programs include Better Family Life Inc., COCA, St. Louis Black Gay and Lesbian Pride Committee Inc., Prison Performing Arts, and St. Louis Rhythm Collaborative.
Applications for RAC’s 2025 artist support grants, which benefit individual artists, closed in May. Awardees for those grants will be announced later this summer.
The RAC’s Artist INC program begins Sept. 16, 2025 and will be held at CIC @ CET, 20 South Sarah Street, St. Louis, MO 63108
Artist selected earlier this year from 60-mile radius of St. Louis will gather for one evening a week for eight weeks to learn strategic business skills specific to their art practice and how to apply those skills cooperatively with their peers.
Artist INC Live guides artists as they learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group application activities, as well as large group discussions and multimedia lectures.
Currently celebrating 40 years in operation, RAC is the leading public investor in arts and culture experiences in the St. Louis region, funded primarily through a hotel and motel tax in St. Louis city and county.
Since its beginning, RAC has provided nearly 7,500 grants totaling over $118 million, including the most recent allocation in 2025.
Calling it “a legendary party,” RAC will present its 40th Birthday Bash from 5-8 p.m. August 28, 2025 at Midway West in St. Louis Union Station.
“This party is the place to experience joy in STL’s talented performers, embrace your creative spirit, and find unity in community,” RAC said in a release.
“Whether you’re a longtime grantee, a local creative looking to connect, or someone who never likes to miss a memorable moment, all are welcome to celebrate. This milestone belongs to you as much as it does to us. This is OUR story of creating together.”
For the full list of awardees, please visit www.racstl.org/grants/awarded-grants. Visit racstl.org/40years to purchase tickets to RAC’s 40th Birthday Bash.
Since November 2024, The St. Louis American entertainment section, known as Living It, has been underwritten by RAC through its ARPA for the Arts Tourism Grants. The partnership will continue through June of 2026.