The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has continued to show its longstanding commitment to arts and culture in the local community. The foundation announced its latest round of philanthropic grants totaling $4.6 million in the areas of education, economic relief, community and art.
The 2009 round of arts and culture grants included a donation of $15,000 to the Bellevue Arts Museum for its upcoming Lisa Gralnick: The Gold Standard exhibition.
The arts and culture grants in the latest round of giving provide financial support for many of the foundation’s longstanding nonprofit partners, including the Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, and the Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle. The foundation has remained strong supporters of BAM over the years, dating back to 1993. In 1999, the foundation gave a generous donation to the BAM Capital Campaign to raise money for a new infrastructure focused on arts, crafts and design.
In all, the foundation has awarded $1.2 million to BAM in the form of 11 grants.
The latest grant will allow BAM to continue to bring thought-provoking art and inspiration to the Bellevue community, museum officials say. The Gold Standard exhibition will feature the exploration of the relationship between gold’s lore and history as an artistic medium, and the function it serves in today’s world as a commodity.
While visiting the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art show in Chicago this past year, Bellevue Arts Museum’s new Director of Curatorial Affairs, Stefano Catalani, was drawn to the artistic jewelry and sculptural work of Gralnick.
“At the museum, we are always looking for ways to explore the overlapping mediums of art. Gralnick’s work is both stunning and powerful, while incorporating craftsmanship and art,” said Catalani. “There are so many good elements in her artwork.”
Although Gralnick is a less-known mainstream artist, she is quickly gaining popularity in the art circuit.
“When you look at this exhibit and think about the museum’s vision, (to bring art, craft and design to the community), Gralnick’s exhibition aligns perfectly,” said the Foundation’s program officer Jim McDonald.
The Paul G. Allen Foundation is now in its 20th year of grant giving, supporting nonprofit organizations focused on making positive and measurable change in the Pacific Northwest. Over the course of that time, the foundation has focused 25 percent of its grants to arts and culture, equaling roughly $91 million across five states.
The latest grants include support for annual arts programming as well as initiatives that help arts organizations strengthen their financial condition and sustain themselves during the recession and beyond.
“Our commitment to supporting the continued vitality of the local arts sector has not changed,” said Susan Coliton, the vice president of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “Like other nonprofits, arts and culture groups are grappling with new economic realities. It is encouraging that attendance at local museums and performing arts organizations remains strong. Clearly, even in challenging times, audiences find value and meaning in the creative work being developed and presented in our communities.”
The Bellevue Arts Museum continues to bring accessible art to the Bellevue’s doorstep. Despite the rough economy, the museum reported an increase in general paid admission by an estimated 30 percent in 2009.
“We had a robust attendance this year,” said Bellevue Arts Museum executive director Mark Crawford. “The museum’s reputation is continuing to grow and our memberships have increased steadily. Artistically speaking, the season we’ve put together is terrific. We are trying to be moderate and realistic, but we are excited about what we will have for 2010. Our goal is to operate and continue financially.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.
Lisa Gralnick: The Gold Standard, March 18 – August 1.
For more information on the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, visit www.pgafoundations.com. For more information on Bellevue Arts Museum and the Lisa Gralnick exhibition, visit www.bellevuearts.org.
