10 Santa Monica Nonprofits Awarded $265K In County Arts Grants

SANTA MONICA, CA — Ten Santa Monica nonprofits have been awarded over $265,000 in county grants to support arts initiatives, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture announced Friday.

The grants are among $6.4 million awarded to 318 nonprofits countywide as part of the Organizational Grant and Community Impact Arts Grant programs. It's a larger pot of money than usual: The Board of Supervisors increased Organizational Grant funding by $1.2 million, the first increase in over 15 years, according to officials.

That program helps support critical needs of arts nonprofits, including staffing and programming. Grantees also get access to county professional development opportunities and scholarships for training and conferences.

County officials say the grants are meant to address systemic inequity in arts funding: 94 percent of grantees have budgets under $5 million. Half of those have budgets under $200,000.

"These organizations are often underfunded and include those that reflect and serve communities of color, historically marginalized, and rural communities," according to the Arts and Culture department.

The Community Impact Arts Grant program, meantime, supports arts-based programs from social justice and service organizations.

"CIAG was designed to address two priorities: making arts services available to LA County residents who might not experience them through traditional arts venues and outlets, and encouraging integration of the arts in cross-sector work at local nonprofits," according to the department.

Applicants for both grants were supported by the county with workshops and technical assistance. Their applications were then reviewed by a combined total of 105 peer panelists from the arts sector. Award recommendations were then reviewed by the Arts Commission, an advisory body appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

Here’s the complete list of Santa Monica grantees, with grant-use information provided by the county:

Elemental Music
$30,000 to support administrative staff salaries, expanding fund development, strengthening infrastructure, and increasing capacity/sustainability

City Garage
$16,800 to support the salary of the artistic director

Highways Performance Space & Gallery
$23,500 to support salaries and benefits for key staff roles of technical director and house/box office manager

KCRW Foundation
$84,200 to support the expanded accessibility of arts, culture, and music programming through free in-person events and digital infrastructure improvements

Ruskin Group Theatre
$20,400 to support the ongoing mission to develop and produce both new and existing plays

SOL-LA Music Academy
$21,600 to support teacher salaries

The BroadStage
$42,200 to support salaries of the BroadStage director of artistic planning and the director of
marketing and communications

Coalition for Engaged Education
$10,200 to support up to 45 justice-involved youth and foster youth participating in screenprinting design courses embedded into the coalition’s comprehensive mobile case management program.

Santa Monica Historical Society
$8,500 to support bespoke youth educational programming that uses the museum as a platform for inspiring students to create their own community-centered art pieces

Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation
$8,400 to support Dia de los Muertos on the Pier, a program intended for all visitors to enjoy, learn and observe