3 Beverly Hills Nonprofits Awarded $50K In County Arts Grants

SANTA MONICA, CA — Three Santa Monica nonprofits have been awarded $50,000 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 Beverly Hills grantees, with grant-use information provided by the county:

Screamfest Horror Film Festival
$18,300 to support the salaries of two full-time employees (co-director, assistant) and a part-
time assistant

Jazz Bakery
$21,900 to support expanded programming at the Moss Theater at New Roads School on the
campus of the Herb Alpert Educational Village

House of Blues Music Forward Foundation
$9,800 to support All Access-Careers in the Music Industry, a creative youth development program for youth in LA County focusing on music industry career exploration and readiness.