This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 31, 2013 - The Regional Arts Commission today announced the recipients of its first-ever Innovation Grants.
Nine local arts organizations share a total of $466,000 awarded in support of out-of-the box projects. Awardees range from more established insitutions such as Stages St. Louis and Craft Alliance to lesser known organizations including Openly Disruptive art/technology group and HEARding Cats artists collective.
The awards range from $18,000 to $100,000:
- Art Saint Louis: $50,000 for creating a digital marketplace
- Contemporary Art Museum: $100,000 for video installations on museum's exterior
- Craft Alliance: $50,000 to create online craft technique classes
- HEARding Cats: $18,000 for developing instruments for underwater concerts
- Metro Theater Company: $80,000: for projects including new works festival
- Openly Disruptive (art and technology organization): $50,000 to create an online museum
- Shakespeare Festival of Saint Louis: $25,000 for an international website promoting the Bard
- Stages St. Louis: $43,000 to establish St. Louis as a hub for creating new American musical productions
- The World Chess Hall of Fame: $50,000 for youth violence-prevention community outreach
