2024 AWARDEES ANNOUNCED
16 Projects To Receive a Total of $40,000
The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House & Museum (WPCA) and The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation (Sachs) at the University of Pennsylvania are thrilled to announce the first round of West Philadelphia Creative Grants, providing $40,000 to support 16 West Philadelphia artists and creative organizations.
“We are overjoyed by the tremendous response that we received from the artist community in West Philly,” said Janice Sykes-Ross, executive director of the WPCA. “The creativity and community focus of the projects are fantastic! We are especially pleased that we were able to increase the number of grant recipients from six to 16 to support even more artists and groups.”
Each awardee receives $2,500 for projects representing a broad range of West Philadelphia’s vibrant creative community. The projects include performances in dance, theater and drumming; workshops in drawing and storytelling; poetry, filmmaking and community-greening activities, and the creation of a mural.
The West Philadelphia Creative Grants program is coordinated by the West Philadelphia Arts Council under the auspices of the WPCA. The grants provide both organizational and individual financial support, as well as funding to implement specific projects.
The grants program is a collaboration between the WPCA and Sachs with lead support from the William Penn Foundation.
The next opportunity in this initiative is an artist residency in the spring. Applications will open later this fall. The residency will provide funding for a BIPOC West Philadelphia artist to work out of the newly renovated administrative space of the WPCA at 4949 Walnut St., adjacent to the museum. There will also be a second round of creative grant applications in December.
AWARDEES & THEIR PROJECTS
CRITERIA FOR FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED
SECOND ROUND WILL OPEN IN DECEMBER
A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO SUPPORT WEST PHILADELPHIA ARTISTS
The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House & Museum and The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania have been awarded a $400,000 24-month grant from the William Penn Foundation to help sustain the creativity of West Philadelphia artists. The grant also supports the creation of a West Philadelphia Community Arts Council.
The Arts Council will distribute grants up to $5,000 to artists, organizers, community and civic groups, and nonprofits for arts projects and cultural activities that benefit the West Philadelphia community, as well as general support for individual artists and organizations.
The Council will also develop programming for the community and explore ways to collaborate with arts-based community initiatives and other community resources within Penn. The Paul Robeson House & Museum will launch an Artist-In-Residence program.
Grant Opportunities
- 2 Project Grants: Up to $5,000 for art projects and cultural activities benefiting the West Philadelphia community.
- 4 General Operating Grants: Up to $2,500 for ongoing operational costs for artists and organizations.
Eligibility
- Must live in West Philadelphia and/or have significant ties to West Philadelphia.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color (BIPOC), or a BIPOC-led group or organization.
Who Can Apply
- Artists, centers, organizations, educators, collectives, informal groups, students, etc.
- Professional artists, emerging artists, novice artists, career artists, mid-career artists, retired artists, commercial artists, crafts people, hobbyists, etc.
HOW TO APPLY
artcouncil@paulrobesonhouse.org
COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM.
SUBMIT A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF 750 WORDS.
SUBMIT A VIDEO OF 3-5 MINUTES.
SUBMIT AN AUDIO OF 3-5 MINUTES.
ADJUDICATION/REVIEW PROCESS SUMMARY
The adjudication process for the West Philadelphia Creative Grants ensures a fair and thorough review of all applications. Applications will be reviewed by the West Philadelphia Arts Council, a diverse panel of community leaders, creatives, teachers and arts professionals.
Each application is scored based on creativity, relationship with West Philadelphia and impact.
ABOUT THE WEST PHILADELPHIA CREATIVE GRANTS
The Sachs Program and the Robeson House are adopting a community-dialogue-driven process for programming and grantmaking, and are aiming to bring as many voices to the table as possible at each stage of the process. The grant will not only provide much-needed support for local artists and artistic programming but also encourage other collaborations and investments in the creative vibrancy of West Philadelphia. Lead support for this project is provided by the William Penn Foundation.
The project has four key components:
West Philadelphia Arts Council: Establishing ongoing dialogue about the resources needed to support arts and culture in West Philadelphia, and managing a sub-granting program to support artists and arts activities within the community. A portion of the William Penn Foundation grant supports honoraria for council members and covers meeting costs.
Arts Grants: Providing direct support to community artists, organizers and nonprofits for art projects and programming, and allowing community members to determine which projects and initiatives receive resources within their own community. Grants are distributed by the Paul Robeson House & Museum.
Community Programming: Focusing on the needs and desires of West Philadelphia community members to ensure the continued vibrancy of its arts and cultural community, leveraging resources from the University of Pennsylvania and integrating with existing Penn programs where appropriate. Developed through conversations between the Council, the Paul Robeson House & Museum and Penn Partners.
Artist-in-Residence Program: Enabling the Paul Robeson House & Museum to invite Black artists from West Philadelphia to work in the apartment above the museum offices; engage with the content of the museum, which is important to the cultural fabric of West Philadelphia, and interact with the West Philadelphia creative community and the Penn community through a series of planned programs, dinners, convenings and studio visits. It represents an opportunity for the museum to expand its role as a key hub for the arts in West Philadelphia and to ensure the connection between minorities through shared representations of the African diaspora.
THE WEST PHILADELPHIA ARTS COUNCIL
The West Philadelphia Arts Council is composed of dedicated individuals from the West Philadelphia community and beyond. Our council members bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to supporting and nurturing the local arts scene.
Arts Council Members
- Micah Wilson, educational leader and youth program consultant. Chair of the West Philadelphia Arts Council.
- Sumi Floyd, media manager and content creator, founder of RawCast the Mag and the PHLJuneteenth Peace Rally.
- Ernest Owens, award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC.
- Jere Edmunds, artist whose media consists of film, photography and performance.
- Karen Smith, percussionist, playwright, director, producer and poet.
- Duane Gordon Jr., full-time artist and entrepreneur.
- Kendra James, establishes and maintains dynamic partnerships, particularly within the music and art industries.
- Jack Drummond, educational leader, administrator, advisor, community organizer, adjunct professor and violinist.
- Karl Morris, owner of Urban Art Gallery.
- John Graves, entrepreneur, educator, student, producer, writer and performing artist.
- Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House.
- Asake-Denise Jones, mixed media fiber artist, teaching artist and transformative arts coach.
PROJECT FACILITATORS & SPONSORS
The Paul Robeson House & Museum was the final home of artist, actor and activist Paul Leroy Robeson. Founded by the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (WPCA), the house keeps Paul Robeson’s legacy alive by supporting the values he stood for — social and economic justice, racial equity, artistic excellence and the power of art as a force for fundamental social change. The Paul Robeson House is a museum, cultural space and community center serving West Philadelphia and the world. Since its founding in 1984 (and the founding of the house in 1994), the WPCA has connected the community to the arts through workshops, gallery shows, author talks and concerts.
Staff:
- Janice Sykes-Ross: Executive Director
- Azsherae Gary: Executive Development Manager
- Tafari Robertson: Event and Membership Manager
- Sherry L. Howard: Archival Project Leader & Marketing/Publicity Manager
- Gigi Varlotta: Museum Curator & Arts Council Program Coordinator
- Vernoca L. Michael: Former Executive Director & Community Activist
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The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation is a center at the University of Pennsylvania that provides grants and other forms of strategic support to artists, faculty, cultural centers, students and other arts advocates at Penn and beyond. Our vision is that the arts at Penn are valued and embraced as a creative catalyst, driving innovation, inspiration and action. The Sachs Program supports a creative, culturally diverse, and pluralistic Penn community. We are committed to supporting individuals and groups from all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Staff:
- John McInerney, Executive Director
- Chloe Reison, Associate Director
- Tamara Suber, Community and Equity Strategist & Team Lead for the West Philadelphia Arts Initiative
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William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, provide inclusive and equitable public spaces and arts and culture experiences, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region.