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.

AWARDEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2023

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 THE ADVANCING BLACK ARTS PROGRAM
Although the grant cycle is now closed, learn more about the 2023 program guidelines:

Should you have questions about a current Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant, or general inquiry about the program, please email us at arts [at] pghfdn.org (arts[at]pghfdn[dot]org).
 
 

 

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.
 

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Symposium: Black artists, cultural organizations and creatives gathered for the inaugural Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Symposium, Sept. 19 and 20, 2019, at the MuseumLab on the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s North Side campus. The theme: "There is Black Art in the Future: Securing and Growing Black Creative Communities." The symposium, captured in this video, included insightful sessions, on-site consultations and TED-style talks. The event was free and all were welcome. Special thanks to the organizing committee for creating this event and to Emmai Alaquiva and Ya Momz House, Inc. for this video.
 

Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh BBQ: A collaboration by The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh program held its first-ever Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh BBQ in August 2019. This community gathering celebrated our grantees past and present. Video by Emmai Alaquiva for The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation.
 

Read about past awardees of Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh funding: