MIAMI – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced today that the first-year round of the Knight Arts Partnership community challenge closed early this morning after a two-month open enrollment period. Of the 1,622 ideas received at www.KnightArts.org most came from individuals, not from organizations.

“The ideas are as diverse as our community. From art on billboards to art underwater, there’s a lot there and it shows that through the arts we can be one Miami,” said Lorenzo Lebrija, Miami program director of Knight Foundation. “The community’s overwhelming response to our challenge confirms South Florida’s growing support for the arts.”

Knight Foundation will review the ideas and invite selected applicants to submit a full grant application. Final grant winners will be announced in the fall.

The Knight Arts Partnership community challenge is funded with $4 million annually and led by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of a 5-year initiative to generate up to $40 million in community funding for the arts in South Florida. More information on the initiative can be found at www.KnightArts.org.

About Knight Foundation

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 Knight communities. Knight Foundation focuses on ideas and projects that create transformational change. For more information, visit www.knightfoundation.org.