A $1 million, four-year extension for PNC Arts Alive, an innovative program supporting visual and performing arts in the St. Louis area with a focus on increasing audience participation and engagement.
First launched in 2010, PNC Arts Alive has already provided 37 grants totaling $1 million to St. Louis area arts organizations. The program has earned local and national commendation from the Missouri Arts Council, the Arts and Education Council in St. Louis, and Americans for the Arts in New York City.
“By extending PNC Arts Alive, we will ensure a vibrant arts program of theater, dance, music and visual arts and build on our program’s initial success,” said Rick Sems, PNC Bank regional president for St. Louis.
“Supporting new and imaginative arts programs help enrich our community and strengthen our local economy.”
Grant Proposals Now Being Accepted
PNC is now accepting grant proposals for increments of $20,000 and above from qualified arts organizations that support fresh and emerging arts programs, value-added public programming and creative use of technology, while seeking to expand audiences. Proposals are due by Jan. 2, 2013, and additional information about program guidelines and the application process is available at www.pncartsalive.com.
The next round of grants will be announced in May 2013.
One of the innovative programs supported by PNC Arts Alive this year was the introduction of ‘Shakespeare in the Streets,’ a unique program designed to revitalize city streets and introduce the Festival to new audiences.
“PNC was the first to invest in this new program, allowing us to spend a year in the neighborhood along Cherokee Street, where we created ‘New World’ – an original play starring residents, children and business owners that chronicled the joys, frustrations and successes of that community,” said Rick Dildine, executive director, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. “
PNC Arts Alive funding will enable us to reach a second neighborhood and use their words and experiences to tell a new story next autumn.”
PNC Arts Alive builds on PNC’s commitment to community development in Greater St. Louis. Through PNC Grow Up Great, a multi-year, bilingual initiative in early childhood education, PNC has worked with Grace Hill Settlement House to improve school readiness.
“By making the arts accessible to all people in St. Louis through the Arts Alive program, PNC has not only increased the number of arts participants over the past two years, but has helped cultivate a generation of future patrons for museums and the performing arts,” said Carl Hamm, executive director of the St. Louis Art Museum.