Arts organizations can apply for grants to hire summer interns - deadline is April 7

 

For Release March 24, 2010

 

Contacts (for media only):

Linda Chiavaroli, Dir. of Communications, L.A. County Arts Commission

213 202-5935, communications@arts.lacounty.gov

Angela Gaspar-Milanovic, Technical Assistance Programs Manager, L.A. County Arts Commission

213 202-5858, internship@arts.lacounty.gov

 

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION TO HIRE SUMMER INTERNS

Deadline to apply is April 7

 

On March 23, 2010 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas to provide $250,000 from Provisional Finance Unit funds for the 2010 Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program. The guidelines and application for the program are now available on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission's Web site at www.lacountyarts.org/internship.html. The program is for Los Angeles County-based nonprofit performing, presenting and literary arts organizations interested in mentoring an undergraduate college student for ten weeks during summer 2010. Grants of $2,500 to $3,500, depending on organizational budget size, to be used to pay interns are awarded to successful applicant organizations.

 

Organizations interested in this program should review the guidelines before beginning an application. Several aspects of the program have changed due to decreased funding:

Only arts organizations that possess 501(c)(3) status are eligible for the program, including municipal arts agencies and municipal performing arts organizations.

 

Each organization may request only one full-time intern.

 

Organizations with budgets over $1.5 million are required to provide a cash match of $500.

 

Organizations with budgets greater than $4 million are required to provide a cash match of $1,000.

Deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, April 7, 2010.

The purpose of the County's program is to provide undergraduate students with meaningful on-the-job training and experience in working in nonprofit arts organizations, while assisting arts organizations to develop future arts leaders.

 

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Laura Zucker, Executive Director, provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. In addition to funding the internship program, the Arts Commission provides leadership and staffing to support the regional blueprint for arts education, Arts for All; administers a grants program that funds more than 300 nonprofit arts organizations annually; oversees the County’s Civic Art Program for capital projects; programs the John Anson Ford Theatres; and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com. The Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. Holiday Celebration broadcast nationally, and a year-round music program that funds more than 40 free concerts each year in public sites. The 2009-10 President of the Arts Commission is Araceli Ruano.

 

For more information please consult the Arts Commission online press kit: http://lacountyarts.org/page/pubnewspress

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3/24/10