Now in its third year, the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia will call for your best ideas for the arts in Philadelphia Sept. 17. – Oct. 15. The $9 million initiative seeks the most innovative cultural ideas to engage and enrich Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Launched in 2010, the challenge has awarded $5.4 million to 71 ideas to date. Winners, selected from more than 3,000 applications, represent a broad spectrum of the community — from individual artists and artist-driven organizations to some of the city’s premier cultural institutions. “We’ve received an overwhelming response from the city’s creative community over the past two years,” says Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia program director for Knight Foundation. “We’re looking for arts ideas that inspire the community to build a better future together and make Philadelphia a more vibrant place to live.”

Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement at City Hall Presents; photo by Josh Pelta-Heller

Make this your year. No idea is too large or too small, as long as it follows three basic rules:

1. Your idea is about the arts.
2. Your project takes place in or benefits Philadelphia.
3. You find other funding to match Knight Foundation’s grant (within a year).

Applications will be accepted from Sept. 17 – Oct. 15.  All is takes is 150 words.

Be sure to visit us right here on Monday, Sept. 17 to find out how you can submit your idea.

Finalists for the challenge will be announced in early 2013, and those projects will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal. Winners will be announced in the spring.

Want to stay up to date on Knight Arts initiatives? Have a question about the challenge? Be sure to like Knight Arts on Facebook and follow @KnightArts on Twitter.