arts arc background

Programs

Arts


Cultivating, showcasing, and disseminating the stories of innovative art for social change.

Photo credit: Josué Rivas

About the Art Program

The DR Fund’s Arts program supports arts and culture organizations that are using the arts to amplify social justice movements and/or progressive power-building efforts on a national level. We seek to fund exemplary and inspiring efforts that demonstrate how artistic practice can move beyond a single person or institution, affect much broader communities than a single audience, and advance social, economic, and ecological justice.

We are particularly interested in work that inspires civic engagement; ensures that political and social movements incorporate arts and culture into their strategy; and places the priorities and needs of those historically marginalized at the center of healing processes of communities impacted by environmental/climate injustice, mass incarceration, over-policing, and other forms of racial injustice.

46% of grants supporting new and emerging work

24% of grants advancing power-building strategies

27% applied partnerships with movement and community organizations

Art is important because it expands how we look at and understand the world. It can make us think beyond our own experience, and often, in our appreciation, we find things that link us in a common humanity.

David Rockefeller

Our Grantee Partners

Our Geographical Focus is nationwide.

Grant Partners City Amount Awarded
Abbe Museum link Bar Harbor, ME $25,000
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (for EmergeNYC) link Brooklyn, NY $100,000 over 2 years
Brooklyn Arts Exchange link Brooklyn, NY $15,000
Center for Cultural Power link Oakland, CA $25,000
Grantmakers in the Arts link Bronx, NY $15,000 over 3 years
Latino Community Foundation (for PoderArte) link San Francisco, CA $75,000
Urban Bush Women link Brooklyn, NY $100,000 over 2 years
The YEARS Project link Melville, NY $80,000
Brave New Films link Culver City, CA $30000
Center for Artistic Activism link New York, NY $200,000 over 3 years
The Center for Cultural Power link Oakland, CA $55000
Grantmakers in the Arts link Bronx, NY $10000
Hi-ARTS link New York, NY $55,000
Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund link Washington, DC $50,000
New Venture Fund (for IllumiNative) link Washington, DC $205,000 over 2 years
Brave New Films Action Fund link Culver City, CA $25000
Brooklyn Arts Exchange link Brooklyn, NY $100000 over 2 years
Center for Artistic Activism link New York, NY $70000
Grantmakers in the Arts link Bronx, NY $5000
New York Foundation (for Youth Organizing & Culture Change Fund) link New York, NY $150000 over 2 years
Urban Bush Women link Brooklyn, NY $100000 over 2 years
Americans for the Arts Action Fund link Washington, DC $25000
Amplifier link Seattle, WA $50000
Brooklyn Arts Exchange link Brooklyn, NY $50000
The Center for Cultural Power link Oakland, CA $100000 over 2 years
Hi-ARTS link New York, NY $100000 over 2 years
Hip Hop Caucus Action Fund link Washington, DC $150000 over 2 years
New Venture Fund (for IllumiNative) link Washington, DC $200000 over 2 years
Urban Bush Women link Brooklyn, NY $50000
A Blade of Grass link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Americans for the Arts Action Fund link Washington, DC $75000
Amplifier link Seattle, WA $50000
Brave New Films Action Fund link Culver City, CA $50000 over 2 years
Community Funds (for Mosaic Network & Fund) link New York, NY $50000
Cultural Engagement Lab link Oakland, CA $100000
Cultural Shed link New York, NY $50000
Fractured Atlas (for Scene City project) link New York, NY $50000
Gibney Dance link New York, NY $120000
Girl Be Heard link Brooklyn, NY $50000
Grantmakers In the Arts link Bronx, NY $5000
Hi-ARTS link New York, NY $75000
Hip Hop Caucus Action Fund link Washington, DC $100000
Laundromat Project link Brooklyn, NY $75000
National Black Theatre link Harlem, NY $75000
New Venture Fund (for IllumiNative) link Washington, DC $100000
The Public Theater link New York, NY $100000
Swiss Institute link New York, NY $50000
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC link New York, NY $50000
YEARS Project link New York, NY $50000
Americans for the Arts Action Fund link Washington, DC $38000
Amplifier link Seattle, WA $15000
Brave New Films link Culver City, CA $25000
Cultural Shed link New York, NY $50000
Fountain House link New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Fractured Atlas (for Climate Chores project) link New York, NY $25000
Girl Be Heard link Brooklyn, NY $20000
Grantmakers In the Arts link Bronx, NY $27000
Hip Hop Caucus link Washington, DC $20000
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (for Upstart Co-Lab) link New York, NY $75000 over 3 years
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (for Rikers Public Memory Project) link Newark, NJ $15000
Sheherazade Initiatives New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Tribeca Film Institute link New York, NY $25000
Victory Gardens Theater link Chicago, IL $40000
YEARS Project link New York, NY $25000
A Blade of Grass link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Amplifier link Seattle, WA $25000
Brave New Films link Culver City, CA $25000
Chashama link New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Gibney Dance link New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Grantmakers In the Arts link Bronx, NY $1000
Hip Hop Caucus link Washington, DC $20000
Just Detention International link Los Angeles, CA $25000
The Public Theater link New York, NY $20000
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC link New York, NY $20000
Tides Foundation (for YEARS Project) link San Francisco, CA $25000
United Workers Association link Baltimore, MD $20000
Victory Gardens Theater link Chicago, IL $40000
Amplifier link Seattle, WA $25000
Center for Artistic Activism link Beacon, NY $25000
Fountain House link New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Girl Be Heard link Brooklyn, NY $60000 over 2 years
Grantmakers In the Arts link New York, NY $1000
John Howard Society (for Pros and Cons) link Kingston, ON $50000 over 2 years
The Listen Charity USA link Los Angeles, CA $50000 over 2 years
The Public Theater link New York, NY $20000
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC link New York, NY $50000
United Workers Association link Baltimore, MD $30000
Victory Gardens Theater link Chicago, IL $30000
A Blade of Grass link New York, NY $150000 over 3 years
Center for Urban Pedagogy link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Chashama link New York, NY $25000
Fortune Society link Queens, NY $20000
Girl Be Heard link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Issue One link Washington, DC $12500
John Howard Society (for Pros and Cons) link Kingston, ON $25000
MAPP International Productions New York, NY $25000
Theatre of the Oppressed link Brooklyn, NY $25000
United Workers Association link Baltimore, MD $30000
The Watershed Center (for People's Collective Arts) Millerton, NY $17500
A Blade of Grass link New York, NY $50000
Center for Urban Pedagogy link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Fortune Society link Queens, NY $20000
Gibney Dance link New York, NY $50000 over 2 years
Groundswell link Brooklyn, NY $20000
Laundromat Project link New York, NY $20000
Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City (for Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs Artist-in-Residence) link New York, NY $25000
Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art link Brooklyn, NY $25000
New York Community Trust (for New York City Cultural Agenda Fund) link New York, NY $25000
The Public Theater link New York, NY $20000
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture link New York, NY $25000
Socrates Sculpture Park link Queens, NY $50000
A Blade of Grass link New York, NY $30000
Center for Urban Pedagogy link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Gibney Dance link New York, NY $25000
Groundswell link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Laundromat Project link New York, NY $20000
Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art link Brooklyn, NY $25000
New York Community Trust (for Hive Digital Media Learning Fund) link New York, NY $25000
New York Community Trust (for New York City Cultural Agenda Fund) link New York, NY $25000
The Public Theater link New York, NY $25000
Queens Museum of Art link Queens, NY $25000
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture link New York, NY $25000
Bronx Museum link Bronx, NY $25000
Center for Urban Pedagogy link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Fund for Public Schools (for Summer Arts Institute) link New York, NY $15000
Laundromat Project link New York, NY $15000
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City (for New York City Housing Authority Youth Chorus) New York, NY $15000
New York Community Trust (for Hive Digital Media Learning Fund) link New York, NY $25000
The Public Theater link New York, NY $25000
Queens Museum of Art link Queens, NY $25000
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture link New York, NY $25000
Apple Arts New York NY $15000
Artists Striving to End Poverty link New York, NY $15000
Bronx Museum of the Arts link Bronx NY $25000
Brooklyn Academy of Music link Brooklyn, NY $50000 over 2 years
Carter Burden Center for the Aging link New York, NY $10000
Fund for Public Schools (for Summer Arts Institute) link New York, NY $20000
Groove With Me link New York, NY $15000
Groundswell Community Mural Project link Brooklyn, NY $40000 over 2 years
Laundromat Project link New York, NY $15000
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City (for New York City Housing Authority Youth Chorus) New York, NY $20000
Metropolis Ensemble link Brooklyn, NY $20000 over 2 years
New York Community Trust (for Hive Digital Media Learning Fund) link New York, NY $25000
Queens Museum of Art link Queens, NY $30000
Apple Arts New York NY $15000
Artists Striving to End Poverty link New York, NY $15000
Bronx Museum of the Arts link Bronx, NY $25000
Brooklyn Academy of Music link Brooklyn, NY $25000
Fund for Public Schools (for Summer Arts Institute) link New York, NY $20000
Groove With Me link New York, NY $20000
Groundswell link Brooklyn, NY $40000
Laundromat Project link New York, NY $10000
Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City (for Spaceworks) link New York, NY $80000 over 2 years
New York University Tisch School of the Arts link New York NY $15000
Queens Museum of Art link Queens, NY $40000
Studio Museum link Harlem Bronx, NY $25000
Apple Arts NYC New York, NY $10000
El Barrio's Artspace (PS109) link New York, NY $25000
Casita Maria link Bronx, NY $15000
Fund for Public Schools (fpr Summer Arts Institute) link New York, NY $20000
Groove With Me link East Harlem, NY $15000
Groundswell Community Mural Project link New York, NY $20000
Hip Hop Theater Festival link New York, NY $15000
Joyce Theater link New York, NY $15000
New York University Tisch School of the Arts link New York, NY $15000
Queens Museum of Art link Queens, NY $40000
Studio Museum link New York, NY $20000