PHILADELPHIA – Sept. 17, 2012– The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is now accepting applications for the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia. The $9 million community-wide contest seeks the most innovative cultural ideas to engage and enrich Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. The deadline is Oct. 15.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response from the city’s creative community over the past two years,” says Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia program director for Knight Foundation. “We’re looking for arts ideas that inspire the community to build a better future together and make Philadelphia a more vibrant place to live.”

Launched in 2010, the challenge has awarded $5.4 million to 71 ideas to date. Winners, selected from more than 3,000 applications, represent a broad spectrum of the community — from individual artists and artist-driven organizations to some of the city’s premier cultural institutions.

Anyone can enter the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia — independent artists of all types, businesses, established arts institutions, 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 encourage applicants who aren’t 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.

Knight Foundation will host two community information sessions in October, giving interested applicants opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the initiative.

Town Hall Meeting
6 p.m., Wed, Oct. 3,
at the Philadelphia Center for Architecture
1218 Arch St, Philadelphia
The community is invited to participate in an open Q & A session about the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia led by Knight Foundation representatives.

Live Web Chat
1 p.m. Tue, Oct. 9
atKnightArts.org
Applicants can participate in a live Web chat on KnightArts.org, where Knight Foundation staff will be on hand to take questions and give real-time responses.

Finalists for the challenge will be announced in early 2013, and those projects will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal. Winners will be announced in the spring.

The Knight Arts Challenge began in 2008 in Miami, where the initiative is now in its fifth year.  For more on Knight Foundation’s arts initiative and to view a full list of Knight Arts Challenge winners, visit www.KnightArts.org. Connect on the Knight Arts Challenge Facebook page here and via @KnightArts on Twitter.