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 careers and support the lives of individual artists.
- Increase the sustainability of cultural organizations that focus on advancing the art of the African diaspora by working to eliminate racial disparities within the larger arts sector.
- Support collaboration in and community awareness of the Black arts sector.
- Prioritize the documentation and discussion of artists’ work and well-being as part of the region’s cultural health.
- Support work that directly addresses and calls for the eradication of systemic and structural racism.
2025 APPLICATION CYCLE
Attend Grantseekers Information Session
All applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Grantseeker Information Session prior to applying for funding.
The info session will be held on Oct. 2, 2025, at 3 p.m. via Zoom.
Advance registration is required. If you are unable to attend the session, a recording will be available on this page following the event.
Register to attend information session
Learn how to apply
Before applying, please review the following to learn about the program criteria, create a profile and submit an online application:
- Download program guidelines.
- Get application assistance:
For project-support applicants: Schedule a one-on-one appointment with Christiane Dolores.
For operating support applicants: contact the arts program team at arts@pghfdn.org. - For first-time applicants: Create an online profile.
- Apply online.
- For questions related to the online grant portal, contact the arts program team at arts@pghfdn.org
All application proposals are due via our online portal by Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Funding decisions will be announced within five months of the application deadline.
Due to a significant Foundation-wide technology transition, the 2025 ABAP application cycle is operating on a modified timeline and will last from September 2025 - early Spring 2026. Grantseekers should plan for activities to begin no earlier than April 1, 2026.
We expect to receive a large volume of requests for assistance. Please note that any questions received on the application due date may not be answered.
If you have questions about Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh, please email us at arts@pghfdn.org.