(Photo from United Arts’ Facebook)
ORLANDO | United Arts of Central Florida announced Jan. 24 that it has awarded $100,000 worth of grants to 15 local organizations with five applicants receiving two years worth of funding.
The grants were provided through the organization’s 2023 Diversity in the Arts program.
Sponsored by Duke Energy, Diversity in the Arts creates a pathway for organizations to apply for multi-year general operating support, granting between $5,000 to $10,000 per year. Among this year’s recipients were Descolonizarte Teatro, Fusionfest and the Orlando International Film Festival.
United Arts said in a press release they are committed to making intentional investments into the growth and stability of organizations that represent, celebrate and serve the culturally diverse communities of Central Florida.
United Arts wants to increase access to the arts for all people of Central Florida by growing the grants and outreach programs that are inclusive, equitable, impactful and sustainable. To achieve this, the organization formed a diverse taskforce of previous Diversity in the Arts grantees, cultural community leaders, former panelists and the United Arts board members to remove obstacles that could hinder access to impactful arts and culture funding.
“Orlando Urban Film Festival is very grateful and thankful to United Arts and Duke Energy for supporting our efforts in helping diverse cultures gain exposure and access for their creative works. We bring creators in the arts together to collaborate and celebrate each other,” Marianne Eggleston, founder of OUFF, said in the release. “The additional funds will provide OUFF with the administrative support needed to really grow and continue helping our community.”
The full list of the 2023 Duke Energy Diversity in the Arts grant recipients are listed below.
Arching Oaks Inc. (awarded $5,000) is a community art center located in Eustis, Florida, dedicated to providing the community with high-quality, artistic and cultural experiences rooted in Japanese traditions and facilitated by experts in their fields.
The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.) (awarded $10,000) is a multidisciplinary organization offering public programming on pride in heritage – cultural tourism; educational excellence – academic support; and cultural arts — the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts and the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities.
Casa de Mexico de la Florida Central, Inc (awarded $5,000) was incorporated in 1996 to celebrate and create awareness and understanding in Central Florida of the Mexican culture and values, its people and the contributions people of Mexican heritage make to better the community.
Descolonizarte Teatro, Inc. (awarded $10,000 per year for two years) programs free and accessible theatrical performances, workshops, and community conversations, emphasizing decolonization, to address and heal generational wounds and traumas in historically marginalized, Latinx communities: immigrant, farmworker, and LGBTQ+.
Escuela De Bomba Y Plena Tata Cepeda (awarded $5,000 per year for two years) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by Barbara Ortiz, granddaughter of Don Rafael Cepeda Atìles-The Patriarch of Puerto Rican Bomba & Plena. With the support of volunteers, is dedicated to promoting Bomba and Plena through study, teaching, cultural events, and artistic presentations.
Fusionfest Inc. (awarded $10,000) creates opportunities for discovery and awareness of the joy and power of cultural diversity and inclusion through arts, food, and education. Our year-round programming includes a weekly virtual talk show, monthly dining events, watch parties, and an annual two-day festival.
Goldsboro West Side Community Historical Association (awarded $5,000 per year for two years). On December 1, 1891 the town of Goldsboro was the second African American incorporated City in the United States. The Goldsboro Museum showcases and preserves the history, heritage, livelihood, and culture of Goldsboro, Florida.
Little Radical Theatrics Inc. (awarded $5,000), founded in 2009 in Yonkers NY, and based out of Orlando since 2020 is a non-profit community theater company. Producing three, all-ages, productions per year and one youth theater production using its founding tenants of Diversity, Education and Community
Open Scene, Inc. (awarded $10,000 per year for two years) teaches, entertains, and empowers through quality artistic and humanities endeavors that stimulate cultural dialog and pluralism and produces the Latinx Performing Arts Festival, the playwriting contest “Escena Abierta,” Voices, Art in the Garden, and dynamics to improve Spanish skills.
Orlando Community Arts (awarded $5,000) is an African American 501c3 organization that aims to give members of minority and low-income arts groups access to the arts which may include theater, film, radio, television, dance, music, media visual and all related activities. Further, to foster a safe, creative, and culturally sensitive environment that develops the whole child through a “High Quality” arts curriculum and programming.
Orlando International Film Festival, inc. (OIFF) (awarded $5,000) provides educational programs in the visual/performing arts, composition skills, and film production for at-risk youth and emerging filmmakers. OIFF also produces community showcases and film festivals for the general public.
Orlando Urban Film Festival (OUFF) (awarded $5,000 per year for two years) is where African American visionaries expose their products to the marketplace and share their film works on a “BIG SCREEN” in a state-of-the-art theater or perform music on a large stage, or virtually in the Metaverse.
PAST/The Wells’ Built Museum of African American History & Culture (awarded $10,000). The mission and core work of the Association to Preserve African American Society, History and Tradition, Inc. (PAST) is to research, document and highlight the history, lifestyles, architecture, religions, art, cuisine, festivals, and rituals of people of African ancestry who have impacted the development of the state of Florida and the United States. This mission is accomplished through literary offerings, interpretive and artistic exhibits, dialogue, discussions, and cultural tours.
So You Want Your Name In Lights Corporation (SYWYNIL) (awarded $5,000) aims to improve the quality of life for community residents by implementing at-risk, underserved youth mentoring activities, educational support, and performing arts programs.
Teatro for the Soul (awarded $5,000) is working determinedly to advance social justice in culturally diverse communities through the transformative power of theatre to promote the Latinx culture, the Spanish language and mental health in our community.
To be considered for the Diversity in the Arts program, applicants must be a BIPOC/ALAANA led organization and must be located in Orange, Seminole, Lake or Osceola counties. The organization also must have arts, history or science as their primary mission to be reviewed by United Arts. For more information, visit UnitedArts.cc.
