The Pittsburgh Foundation

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh is an arts program of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh is an arts program of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The City of Pittsburgh is known for its rich contributions to the canon of Black cultural creativity. Cultural experiences and creative innovations have always reflected the expressions and imaginations of people from the African diaspora. The Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh program is where access and opportunity connect with Pittsburgh artists who are thriving in their creative process as a means and a way of life.

The program is committed to helping to create a vibrant cultural life in Pittsburgh and the region. Until 2023, the program was co-managed in partnership with The Heinz Endowments. Currently the program is managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation, with both foundations consistently making investments towards this initiative since 1988.  

The program goals are to:

  • Help build the careers and support the lives of individual artists.
  • Increase the sustainability of cultural organizations that focus on Black arts.
  • Build community awareness of the Black arts sector.
  • Support efforts toward greater collaboration and the elimination of racial disparities within the larger arts sector.
  • Prioritize the documentation and discussion of Black artists’ work and wellbeing as part of the region’s cultural health.
  • Support work that directly addresses and calls for the eradication of systemic and structural racism that allows for disparities to exist.


2024 APPLICATION PROCESS

The application for the 2024 grant cycle is open now through June 13, 2024, at 5 p.m. 

Please take a moment to review the program guidelines and application process: 

Attend the community Q&A session

To learn more about the program and ask questions to Foundation staff, we strongly encourage you to attend the virtual community Q&A session. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 3 p.m. via Zoom

register to attend q&a session

Program guidelines

Learn more about the 2024 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant program and the available funding opportunities.
download program guidelines

How to apply

Before applying, please review the following to learn about program criteria, how to create a profile and submit an online application:

  1. Review program guidelines.
  2. Get application assistance. Connect with Christiane Dolores to discuss your application. 
  3. Create an online profile.
  4. Watch an instructional video for those applying as: 
  5. Apply online.

All application proposals are due via our online portal by Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Funding decisions will be announced within five months of the application deadline.  

apply via grant PORTAL
Due to the large number of requests expected in special initiatives, requests for assistance should allow for ample time prior to the day of the deadline. Please note that questions received on the day the application is due may not be answered due to capacity constraints. 

 

If you have more questions, please email us at arts [at] pghfdn.org (arts[at]pghfdn[dot]org). 

MEET THE 2023 AWARDEES

 

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grants totaling over $1.6 million were awarded to to support excellence in artwork rooted in the Black experience.  Read the news release. 

see the 2023 Awardees

About Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh: The Advancing Black Arts program is where access and opportunity meet with Pittsburgh artists who are thriving in their creative process as a means and a way of life. Video by Emmai Alaquiva for The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation.
 

Read more about past awardees: