Knight Arts Challenge Deadline for City-wide Arts Initiative Set For 10/31

The deadline for the second year of the Knight Arts Challenge is one week away. The three-year, $9 million community-wide contest seeks the most innovative ideas in the arts to engage and enrich Philadelphia's communities. Interested applicants with great ideas for the arts must submit their 150-word applications by Monday, Oct. 31 at midnight at KnightArts.org.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will host one final Q&A session with a live web chat this Thursday, Oct. 27 from 1-2 p.m. Participants can go to KnightArts.org to type in questions and get real-time responses from Knight Foundation staff Dennis Scholl, vice president/arts and Tatiana Hernandez, arts associate.

Anyone can enter the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia - independent artists and artist collectives of all types, businesses, established arts institutions, service organizations and any individual who has a great idea for the arts. The initial two-question application - available now at KnightArts.org - is designed to be simple to encourage applicants who are not traditional grant seekers.
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 Philadelphia.
3) The grant recipients must find funds to match Knight's commitment (within a year).

In the Challenge's first year, Knight Foundation awarded $2.7 million to 36 winners representing a broad spectrum of the community - from individual artists and artist-driven organizations to some of the city's premier cultural institutions.

Artist Darla Jackson is creating the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, to help sculptors create their works safely while using heavy-duty tools.

Pig Iron Theater Company is strengthening the contemporary performing arts scene by launching a two-year training program for actors and directors.

The artist collective VoxPopuli won support for the innovative arts series, Spectrum, that crosses the traditional boundaries of visual art, performance, music, film, video, dance and theater.

The Fairmount Park Art Association will transform the night sky and explore the intersection of art and technology through "Open Air," a public art event of roving searchlights that can be controlled by the public with smart phones.

The artist-run dance company BalletX (above) will surprise ballet audiences with new and unexpected dance, comedy, music and spoken word performances during their season.
The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra will hand audiences the baton with free, hands-on conducting lessons in front of professional musicians and a live audience with iConduct!
Read about all 36 first-year winners here.
"This contest is about ideas. What's your big idea for the Philadelphia arts? We want people to tell us what moves them, so that together we can help engage and move the soul of the community," said Scholl.

"The first year of this contest demonstrated just how creative our community can be," said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia program director for Knight Foundation. "We're looking forward to more and even better entries in year two."

For more on Knight Foundation's arts initiative and to view a full list of Knight Arts Challenge winners, visit www.KnightArts.org. Philadelphians can also learn more, ask questions, and share ideas on the Knight Arts Challenge Facebook page here, and on Twitter @KnightArts.

About 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.