Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia

STATUS UPDATE:  2012 finalists are here. Winners to be named in April 2012.

You’re here because, like us, you believe the arts are the highest form of human expression. They describe beauty, speak to our soul, engage and enrage. They celebrate our community’s diversity and etch our shared experience. The arts inspire.

It’s your turn to inspire Philadelphia’s growing local arts scene.

The Knight Arts Challenge – Philadelphia is a three-year, $9 million initiative to draw the best and most innovative ideas out of local organizations and individuals seeking to transform the community through the arts Great ideas can start anywhere, so the challenge is open to everyone – established arts institutions, independent artists of all types, businesses and service organizations.

If you have a great idea in the arts, let us know.

There are three simple rules:

  1. The idea is about arts.
  2. The project takes place in or benefits Philadelphia.
  3. You find other funding to match the Knight Foundation grant.

You will have approximately one year from the time you receive the grant to match our funding.  If it is a multi-year project, you will have about a year to match each year’s grant amount.

The initial, 150-word application must be received at KnightArts.org by Oct. 31, 2011 (contest now closed; will reopen Fall 2012).

The Knight Arts Challenge began in 2008 in Miami, where the initiative is now in its third year. Philadelphia is only the second city in which Knight is offering this program. Last year, we funded 36 projects. Is this your year?

What’s your idea?