Thirteen Central Coast Arts Institutions Receive $3.7 Million to Expand Audiences and Increase Financial Sustainability

Just announced, The James Irvine Foundation is giving $3.7 million in grants to 13 arts institutions on the Central Coast. End Quote

Salinas, CA (1888PressRelease) October 11, 2011 - Thirteen Central Coast Arts Institutions Receive $3.7 Million to Expand Audiences and Increase Financial Sustainability Second Phase of Irvine Foundation's Arts Regional Initiative Continues Commitment to Leading Regional Arts Institutions

The James Irvine Foundation today announced $3.7 million in grants to 13 arts institutions in the Central Coast that are committed to broadening and diversifying their audiences and strengthening their financial sustainability. The organizations selected this year for the Arts Regional Initiative are planning to use the grants to advance financial sustainability within a challenging economic environment and to increase cultural participation from underrepresented communities. While each institution is developing specific plans, initiative participants are implementing operational changes to recalibrate for the current economy, strengthening and diversifying board leadership, and developing culturally relevant artistic programs to attract diverse audiences and deepen their relationships with existing audiences.

"These Central Coast arts organizations are vital anchor institutions within their communities and provide an array of important opportunities for people to engage with the arts," noted Josephine Ramirez, Arts Program Director for the Irvine Foundation. "These grants represent our continued commitment to them as they explore new ways of achieving financial sustainability and attracting culturally diverse audiences."

The organizations represent a mix of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, opera, theater, visual arts and multidisciplinary arts. The grants will be awarded over three years and grantees will share resources, best practices and lessons learned. A complete list of grantees follows:

Organization City Grant Amount

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Santa Cruz $275,000
Kuumbwa Jazz Center Santa Cruz $300,000
Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey $300,000
Monterey Museum Of Art Monterey $300,000
Museum of Ventura County Ventura $300,000
National Steinbeck Center Salinas $300,000
Ojai Music Festival Ojai $325,000
Rubicon Theatre Ventura $350,000
San Luis Obispo Art Center San Luis Obispo $225,000
Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum Santa Barbara $250,000
Opera Santa Barbara Santa Barbara $225,000
Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Association Santa Barbara $275,000
State Street Ballet Santa Barbara $300,000

Irvine launched phase one of the Arts Regional Initiative in 2006 with support for organizations in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego counties. The initiative supported arts organizations in the Central Valley in 2007 and the Central Coast in 2008. Phase two of the initiative was launched in 2009 with a return to leading arts organizations located in Southern California and for Central Valley organizations in 2010. Of the current round of 13 Central Coast grantees, 11 participated in phase one of the initiative and two are new to the initiative (Monterey Jazz Festival and Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum).

The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on three program areas: Arts, California Democracy and Youth. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided over $1 billion in grants to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations throughout California. With $1.6 billion in assets, the Foundation made grants of $65 million in 2010 for the people of California.

For more information about the Irvine Foundation, please visit our Web site at www.irvine.org.

Contacts: Ray Delgado
Communications Officer, The James Irvine Foundation
415.777.2244 or 415.290.1143 (cell)
RDelgado ( @ ) irvine dot org

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