Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh
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.
2025 APPLICATION CYCLE
Due to a significant Foundation-wide technology transition, the Foundation’s Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh program will operate on a modified timeline in 2025. Please continue to check the website for up-to-date information on this year's application process and deadlines. We encourage you to sign up here to stay informed about grant opportunities.
About the 2024 Awardees
Download 2024 program guidelines
Grant Review Panel
Applicants to the 2024 grantmaking cycle in the Aboveground Railroad and Project Support funding streams were reviewed and recommended by a grant review panel of Pittsburgh-based and national artists from varied artistic disciplines: Raymond Thompson; Camaro West; Jeremy McQueen; Erika Denae J; Azure D. Osborne-Lee; Bekezela Mguni; Bridgette Perdue; Jeanna Chery; and Lenworth McIntosh “Joonbug.”
If you have questions about Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh, please email us at arts@pghfdn.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.
Read more about past awardees: