Knight Foundation

Erin Joy Schmidt astonishes as fashion icon Isabella Blow in Mad Cat Theatre Company's production of “Blow Me,” written by Jessica Farr. However, Schmidt's strong performance overshadowed the rest of the cast. Despite their exquisite performances, their oddly unfashionable wardrobe and chaotic interstices distracted from Schmidt's commanding presence on stage...

20 female artists feature their performance-video works. Back when video art was still young, a puppy really, in the late 1960s, Joan Jonas emerged and transformed the genre with the incorporation of her own performances in her filmed work. She also paved the way for women...

Above: Willie Stewart directs children from the Lauderdale Lakes Education Complex and Musicians of the Heart band. Photo courtesy of Dave Muir of DAVIDiPhoto. Knight Foundation recently released a report, “Why Contests Improve Philanthropy,” about managing open contests. Below, Steven S. Klotz, executive director of the Embrace Music Foundation, writes...

Above: Willie Stewart directs children from the Lauderdale Lakes Education Complex and Musicians of the Heart band. Photo courtesy of Dave Muir of  DAVIDiPhoto. Knight Foundation recently released a report, “Why Contests Improve Philanthropy,” about managing open contests. Below, Steven S. Klotz, executive director of the Embrace Music Foundation, writes about the impact a 2010 Knights Arts Challenge prize of $25,000 to “Reggae Ambassador” Willie Stewart had on the development of the organization. Embrace received a $50,000 grant from Knight in 2012. At Embrace Music Foundation, we show kids new ways to appreciate music, and let them learn how the arts can change their lives. While we look ahead to our next series and presentation in October, we haven’t forgotten how we arrived at this moment. The Knight Arts Challenge, an open contest, is a big part of that. “We were coming off our first ‘Rhythms of Africa’ at Miramar ArtsPark in 2009,” said Willie Stewart, Embrace’s chairman and musical director. “The presentation was a spectacular success—people were buzzing for months—but all we had was the program and a hatful of dreams. We didn’t even have our nonprofit corporation, let alone a 501(c)(3). “But here’s the Knight Foundation uniquely challenging every artist and agency in South Florida to step up and pitch their ideas,” he said. “And they make it very easy for everybody, not just the big arts organizations and professional grant writers.” Willie said winning the first challenge led to the creation of the non-profit Embrace Music Foundation, invigorated supporters, encouraged new people to become involved and opened the door to new sources of funding. It seemed like everyone had heard of the Knight Arts Challenge, he said, and becoming a grantee conferred instant street cred.  

One of my most memorable experiences as a child was going to Sea World to see the majestic and seemingly friendly 8,000-pound orca, Shamu, splash the audience when she leapt out of the containment pool. One of my most scarring experiences as a child was watching the 1977 film, Orca:...