By Laura Spencer
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-560925.mp3
Kansas City, MO – The United Arts Fund movement began in the late 1940s...as a way to broaden support for the arts. And across the country, there are now about 70 United Arts Funds, including one in Kansas City called the ArtsKC Fund.
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A United Arts Fund is based on the United Way model, raising money through workplace giving campaigns. But, in this case, the funds go into the arts community and to individual artists. In the first round of grants for the Arts KC Fund, 17 arts organizations, from the American Jazz Museum to the Starlight Theatre, were selected to receive funds for general operating support. Paul Tyler is the grants director for the new Arts KC Fund, managed by the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City.
Paul Tyler: We are just getting started with what is really going to be a test campaign for us. But the response has been terrific. We've got 27 different companies that have now agreed to work with us.
Tyler says the fundraising goal this year is 150 thousand dollars. He says the application process will open soon for the next round of grants. And funding is expected to be distributed in July of this year. Laura Spencer, KCUR News.