The Cultural Sustainability: Community Roots program, offered by Mid Atlantic Arts in partnership with The Wallace Foundation and other U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs), provides general operating support to arts organizations rooted in communities of color. The program offers unrestricted funding to sustain and expand practices that directly benefit these communities while fostering collaboration between artists, communities, and regional arts organizations. Up to 20 grantees will be selected from the Mid Atlantic Arts service region, which includes DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PR, USVI, VA, and WV.

Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget under $500,000 (excluding emergency relief funds) and at least three years of arts and cultural programming experience. Programs must demonstrate a strong commitment to serving historically underserved communities of color, with leadership closely connected to these communities. The organization’s mission should reflect efforts to address systemic inequities and prioritize the needs of BIPOC communities. Applicants may include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, for-profit entities, or artist collectives (with a tax ID or a fiscal sponsor). Organizations that have received ArtsHERE funding from a Regional Arts Organization are not eligible.

The application timeline is as follows:

October 24, 2024: Guidelines available.
October 31, 2024: Informational webinar from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET.
November 12, 2024: Applications open.
Drop-In Sessions:
English: November 13, 2024, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET.
Spanish: November 14, 2024, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET.
January 6, 2025, 11:59 PM EST: Application deadline.
May 2025 – June 2026: Program period.
The Cultural Sustainability program is a significant opportunity for small arts organizations serving BIPOC communities to access flexible funding, strengthen their operations, and enhance their impact. For more details, visit the Mid Atlantic Arts website or attend the informational webinar.