Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia

Full-service Communications and Marketing for Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia, an innovative three-year, $9 million arts initiative

Best ideas for the Philadelphia arts receive $2.76 million in funding

Thirty-five ideas for the arts in Philadelphia will receive $2.76 million as winners of the 2012 Knight Arts Challenge. Now in its second year, the community-wide challenge funds the best ideas for engaging and enriching Philadelphia through the arts.

Emerging from more than 1,260 submissions, the 2012 winners represent a wide range of Philadelphia’s creative thinkers, including artists Erica Hawthorne and Sean Stoops, small organizations like the Bearded Ladies Cabaret and the Little Berlin collective, and established institutions with innovative ideas.

“The cities that succeed, that offer the greatest quality of life, view every single person as a creative being,” said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation’s vice president for arts. “We hope the Knight Arts Challenge and its winners provide an added spark that inspires the community to build a better future together.” To date, 71 ideas have been awarded $5.4 million. A third round of the Knight Arts Challenge will open in the fall.

For the full winners list, click on the press release below or visit knightarts.org.

The Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia is open to anyone with a great idea for the arts. The challenge has just three rules: 1) The idea must be about the arts, 2) the project must take place in or benefit Philadelphia and 3) the grant recipients must find funds to match Knight’s commitment.

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.

Best ideas for the Philadelphia arts receive $2.76 million in funding

PHILADELPHIA – April 23, 2012 – Thirty-five ideas for the arts in Philadelphia will receive $2.76 million as winners of the 2012 Knight Arts Challenge.

Now in its second year, the community-wide challenge funds the best ideas for engaging and enriching Philadelphia through the arts.

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Downloads

Photo by Susan Beard2012 Knight Arts Challenge winners ceremony in the Great Stair Hall
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Photo by Susan Beardonna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia Program Director, Knight Foundation
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Photo by Susan BeardRandom Act of Culture performed by Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre
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Photo by Susan BeardMayor Michael A. Nutter declares Knight Arts Challenge Day
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head shotDennis Scholl, VP/Arts, Knight Foundation
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Press Mentions

63 Knight Foundation finalists named

Phrequency

Congratulations to the first round of Knight Arts Challenge finalists. This three-year, $9 million initiative will fund what they consider to be the greatest ideas for the arts in Philly. The 63 finalists below were chosen from 1,752 applicants.

The challenge includes three rules. The idea must be art related, must take place in or benefit Philly, and the winner must find the funds to match the original grand within a year. Finalists include Indy Hall, WXPN, Philly Fringe, Vox Populi, and more.

Grant promotes creative thinking

Philadelphia Tribune

When the citywide Knight Arts Challenge opened to the Philadelphia arts community, a record-breaking 1,752 people responded. Last week, 63 finalists were named for their best idea for the arts in Philadelphia. In fact, Philadelphians set a record for number of submissions in a single year for the challenge that originated in Miami in 2008.

The challenge is a new three-year, $9 million initiative to fund the best ideas for the arts in Philadelphia. Building on the momentum of the city’s vibrant arts scene, the Knight Arts Challenge seeks out innovative projects to inspire and enrich Philadelphia’s communities by asking one simple question: What’s your best idea for the arts in Philadelphia?

Knight Foundation grants draw artists of every stripe

WHYY, newsworks

The Knight Foundation dangled money in front of Philadelphia, and a record number of Philadelphians rose up to grab it.

More than 17,000 applications came in from people vying for a piece of the $9 million fund offered by the Knight Arts Challenge.

Most grant-giving foundations are available only to approved nonprofits, but the Knight Arts Challenge was structured to be as open as possible. Anybody — be it a nonprofit, for-proft or individual — was eligible, so long as they could articulate an art project in 150 words.

BIG UPS: Knight Arts Challenge finalists are diverse, progressive and generally awesome

Citypaper

Last night the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (you know, the one that sponsors, like, everything on WHYY?) announced its 63 finalists in the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia, which gives a total of $9 million over three years to those with progressive ideas in the Philly arts world. Oh, and 1,752 folks applied, so this is a pretty prestigious step.


Knight Arts Website
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