The City of Pittsburgh is known for its rich contributions to the canon of Black cultural creativity. Cultural experiences and creative innovations have always reflected the expressions and imaginations of people from the African diaspora. The Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh program is where access and opportunity connect with Pittsburgh artists who are thriving in their creative process as a means and a way of life.
The program is committed to helping to create a vibrant cultural life in Pittsburgh and the region. Until 2023, the program was co-managed in partnership with The Heinz Endowments. Currently the program is managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation, with both foundations consistently making investments towards this initiative since 1988.
The program goals are to:
- Help build the careers and support the lives of individual artists.
- Increase the sustainability of cultural organizations that focus on Black arts.
- Build community awareness of the Black arts sector.
- Support efforts toward greater collaboration and the elimination of racial disparities within the larger arts sector.
- Prioritize the documentation and discussion of Black artists’ work and wellbeing as part of the region’s cultural health.
- Support work that directly addresses and calls for the eradication of systemic and structural racism that allows for disparities to exist.
2024 APPLICATION CYCLE
The application for the 2024 grant cycle is now closed. Applicants approved for a grant will be notified by Nov. 30.
Learn more about the 2024 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant program guidelines:
View 2024 program guidelines
If you have questions, please email us at arts [at] pghfdn.org (arts[at]pghfdn[dot]org).
MEET THE 2023 AWARDEES | |
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| Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grants totaling over $1.6 million were awarded to to support excellence in artwork rooted in the Black experience. Read the news release. |
About Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: The Advancing Black Arts program is where access and opportunity meet with Pittsburgh artists who are thriving in their creative process as a means and a way of life. Video by Emmai Alaquiva for The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Read more about past awardees: