ST. PAUL — (March 14, 2014) — The Knight Arts Challenge in St. Paul opens for applications beginning April 7. Individuals, organizations and businesses—both nonprofit and for-profit—can apply for a share of $1.5 million for arts and culture projects that engage and enrich the city. The deadline for the contest, a project of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is May 5.
“The Knight Arts Challenge is an ideas contest. We’re looking for new, innovative, authentically St. Paul ideas that can help engage this community,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation.
Challenge applicants can ask Knight Foundation staff questions about the contest during a series of one-hour community Q&A sessions taking place the week of April 13:
Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m.: Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center, 800 Conway St., St. Paul
Sunday, April 13, 6 p.m.: Bedlam Lowertown, 213 Fourth St. E, St. Paul
Monday, April 14, 6 p.m.: Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis
Tuesday, April 15, 8:30 a.m.: The Dubliner, 2162 University Ave W, St. Paul
Tuesday, April 15, 6 p.m.: Neighborhood House, The Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E, St. Paul
Wednesday, April 16, 6 p.m.: Penumbra Theatre, 270 North Kent St., St. Paul
The challenge is open to anyone who has a great idea for the arts. The simple application, which will be available at KnightArts.org, asks for a project description in just 150 words and is designed to encourage non-traditional applicants to submit ideas.
There are only three rules for the challenge:
1. The idea must be about the arts;
2. The project must take place in or benefit St. Paul;
3. The grant recipients must find funds to match Knight’s commitment within a year.
“I am particularly excited this contest welcomes participation from individual artists and smaller arts organizations,” said Polly Talen, St. Paul program director for Knight Foundation. “It builds on momentum already present in the creative community and so important to St. Paul’s future.”
The challenge is part of an $8 million investment in the St. Paul arts that Knight Foundation announced in January. It includes support for three years of the Knight Arts Challenge, and a $3.5 million commitment to five respected institutions that have helped the city earn its reputation as a thriving cultural capital: The Arts Partnership, Penumbra Theatre, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and TU Dance.
St. Paul is the fourth city to host the Knight Arts Challenge, following Miami, Philadelphia and Detroit, where the challenge has fueled grassroots arts scenes by funding a variety of projects across disciplines.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
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Media Contacts:
Kathy Graves, Parenteau Graves, 612-242-3184, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677, [email protected]