Our Town is the NEA's primary creative placemaking grants program. The impact of art is extensive and communities across the nation are leveraging the arts and engaging design to make their communities more livable with enhanced quality of life, increased creative activity, a distinct sense of place, and vibrant local economies that together capitalize on their existing assets. Our Town grants invest in projects that contribute to the livability of communities and place the arts at their core.
Profiles - Artists, Organizations, and Projects
Looking for a comprehensive list of Artists, Organizations, and Projects involved with arts for change work?
Use the map and listings below to browse 45+ pages of profiles, or use the filters and keywords to refine your search. You can also view the listings separated by Artists, Organizations, and Projects.
Minneapolis, MN
OverExposure is a media arts organization that creates partnerships between photographers, artists, students, academic learning institutions, and tax exempt nonprofits on theme-specific media projects. We are the first Twin Cities media arts organization whose primary mission is to use photography to build community. Our partnerships provide media services to tax exempt nonprofits whose budget precludes media services and professional credentials to photographers and artists who provide the services.
Fresno, CA
The Pan Valley Institute (PVI) was established in 1998 as a project of the American Friends Service Committee to support immigrants' participation in the civic life of California Central Valley. By providing opportunities for immigrants to come together, learn from each other, and develop strategies for exercising their rights, PVI seeks to strengthen local democracy and the voice of immigrants in the Central Valley. The Pan Valley Institute supports this process by facilitating popular workshops and cross-cultural relationship building.
Minneapolis, MN
Pangea World Theater illuminates the human condition, celebrates cultural differences, and promotes human rights by creating and presenting international, multi-disciplinary theater. Pangea World Theater begins from the fundamental paradigm of diversity in the world. Its work expresses this reality and its organization advances this possibility consciously.
Sausalito, CA
The Panta Rhea Foundation (PRF) was established in 2001 as a private foundation devoted to researching issues and analyzing the operations, goals and potential of organizations committed to building a more just and sustainable world. The Foundation advises individual donors and other charitable entities on grantmaking strategies and specific grants.
Park City, UT
The Park City Summit County Arts Council promotes, supports, and strengthens arts and culture in our community through markeitng, programming, and policy/advocacy activities.
Partners in Action is a program that gives Alternate ROOTS the opportunity to manifest more deeply its mission to support progressive artists working in grassroots communities throughout the fourteen states of the South. It offers artists and community partners the vital support and resources needed to do their work at a higher level. ROOTS’ interest is to be a third partner with cultural organizing projects in order to help bring about social justice.
Seattle, WA
Artist and activist Paul Rucker creates interdisciplinary art that infuses his music and composing talents with visual art. He has performed inside both active prisons and the notorious Alcatraz prison to prompt dialogue about mass incarceration and inhumane conditions. He believes by being as direct as performing inside the confines of the prison, he is being as active and verbal about the cause in the most direct and efficient manner.
Paulo Gregory Harris
Baltimore, MD
Moorhead, MN
The People’s Press Project (PPP) was created in May 2010 to address media justice issues of access and equity in rural North Dakota and Minnesota. The PPP is located in Moorhead on the border of Minnesota and North Dakota in the region known as the Fargo-Moorhead (F-M) community. With the sharp decline in print media, the change over to DTV, and the increase of online media, the PPP seeks to level the playing field for all community members to access media and be not just consumers of media but producers of media.
New York, NY
Performa, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization established by RoseLee Goldberg in 2004, is dedicated to exploring the critical role of live performance in the history of twentieth century art and to encouraging new directions in performance for the twenty-first century.
st louis, MO
PPCS is an ecumenical human services agency serving those who are homeless, especially those living with mental lillness, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. Tthe community collabARTive is an integrated component of the Allen Ave Transitional Housing program, working with the men who are seeking permanent housing in the community.
Baltimore, MD
I produce paintings and drawings to underpin projects defying easy categorization—hybrid undertakings thought of as everything from spirited art experiences to civic actions to humanistic events.
My philosophical approach is grounded in the belief art is a broad idea, essential to individual and cultural identity. As such, art is not marginal, but rather core to who we are.
Minneapolis, MN
PFund advances social justice for LGBT communities by funding systems change, developing leaders, inspiring giving, and convening and reporting on issues of importance within our communities. We are working to change attitudes, change systems and break down barriers at the intersection of our identities—orientation, gender, race, culture—to achieve social justice.
Springdale, UT
Alternative classical composer Phillip Bimstein lives in Springdale, Utah, where he also served two terms as mayor. Known as “ America’s only all natural politician composer,” Bimstein has used music throughout his career as politician and environmental activist.
Miami, FL
Phonograph Films is an art & media production, post-production, and exhibition company founded by Juan Carlos Zaldivar that is interested in building community and developing new, creative ways to use film and art. To this end, it develops discussion guides and organizes exhibitions and civic engagement events around films, art and media. Phonograph Films works in documentary as well as fiction, hybrid, experimental/alternative media, visual and performance art, interactive media and new technologies.
Pierre & Tana Matisse Foundation
New York, NY
Our Foundation funds programs which advance arts education in public, charter, and parochial schools in New York City.
Minneapolis, MN
As a descendant of the Settlement House tradition, Pillsbury House + Theatre unleashes creativity in servce to our Powderhorn/Central neighborhood and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, because the best way to build positive change in our communities is to help people connect, build meaningful relationships with each other, and learn how to fulfill their dreams, their way.