News Releases

Fresno Regional Foundation Awards $85,000 in Arts and Culture

Fresno, CA — The Fresno Regional Foundation awarded $85,000 to fund existing arts and culture organizations in the Central Valley. Funded programs integrate arts and cultural activities in order to benefit the economic and educational needs of our community, support the diverse culture in the Central San Joaquin Valley, and increase awareness and understanding in arts and culture.

One grant of $35,000 was awarded to The Fresno Art Museum. They will be implementing a multi-language interpretive audio tour program for their contemporary and pre-Columbian exhibitions. Exhibitions will encourage cultural participation, provide an enriched educational experience, and strengthen the bonds of our diverse community.

Remaining grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $15,000. The Fresno Philharmonic was awarded $15,000 and will use the funds for their annual Youth and Family concerts in November 2009. Concerts will feature a production of Tchaikovsky Comes to America from Classical Kids Live. The program will be offered to nearly 7,000 economically and academically disadvantaged children free of charge.

Remaining grants awarded went to Henry Madden Library ($5,000) for their Japanese American Experience project, Sierra Chamber Opera ($5,000), for their opera performances in rural and culturally deprived area schools, Valley Public Television ($15,000) for producing two special episodes of “Art Is …,” and Woodward Shakespeare Festival ($10,000) for teaching Shakespeare in classrooms by using free interactive productions and classroom curriculum to middle and high school students.

The Foundation has two more competitive grant cycles this year, one for Youth/Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Deadline is June 12), and one for Human Services/Air Quality (Deadline is September 11).

Fresno Regional Foundation Awards $85,000 in Arts and Culture

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