Gulf Coast Funds $440,000 in Arts Appreciation Grants

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded $440,000 in grants to nine of our region's cornerstone arts and cultural organizations. These unrestricted Arts Appreciation grants—which range from $30,000 to $70,000—may be used as the groups see fit to advance their artistic missions.

“Our Board calls these ‘Arts Appreciation’ grants in recognition of the important and ongoing contributions these key arts organizations make to our region’s economy and quality of life,” said Mark Pritchett, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “Gulf Coast has long valued our partnership with each of these institutions. The grants aim to streamline the process through which we invest in their vital work.”

Arts Appreciation Grant Recipients

The nine Arts Appreciation grants awarded by Gulf Coast this year were:
•    Asolo Repertory Theatre - $70,000
•    Sarasota Ballet - $55,000
•    Sarasota Opera - $50,000
•    Sarasota Orchestra - $50,000
•    Ringling Museum - $50,000
•    Venice Theatre - $50,000
•    Florida Studio Theatre - $45,000
•    Embracing Our Differences - $40,000
•    Venice Symphony - $30,000

Gulf Coast began its Arts Appreciation grant program in 2014. While the grants may not be used for capital projects or to fund endowments, they are otherwise unrestricted so that each organization can put the funding to work immediately in support of its operations, programming, or other needs.