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Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Announces Grants aim to build knowledge and appreciation for arts and culture with roots in Muslim-majority societies.

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) announces grants support for the Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity program. Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA), the program supports efforts to focus on arts and media initiatives for American audiences that highlight the diversity of Muslim populations around the world, dispel negative stereotypes, and increase cultural understanding.

The grant program is based upon APAP’s Creative Campus model to create interdisciplinary opportunities for both campus and community audiences to participate in a more meaningful way with artists and their work. This particularly applies to artists from diverse backgrounds, who have the capacity to engage audiences in experiences that develop greater community cohesion and well-being.

“This is an evolution of our commitment to make the arts front and center for developing and sustaining community cohesion,” said Scott Stoner, vice president of programs and resources at APAP. “The expansion of the Building Bridges network of communities will grow and support arts integrated programs and strategies that lead to positive change in the knowledge building and attitudinal change about Muslim identity in America. In spite of the current culture in which this program is taking place, we can’t help but make a difference.”

In September, 2016, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) will award up to eight individual or consortia applicants with up to two and one-half year project grants ranging from $100,000-$200,000 each. Grantees are expected to plan and maximize resources collaboratively with campus-based and external community partners in order to engage targeted populations – with a primary focus on young people born after 1980 (the “millennial” population).

“We’re delighted to jointly support a second round of grants,” said Cheryl Ikemiya, Senior Program Officer for the Arts at DDCF, and Zeyba Rahman, Senior Program Officer for the Building Bridges Program at DDFIA. “These grants will expand on the successes and learning achieved from the pilot program. We believe that innovative arts initiatives are a powerful means to engage, communicate and inspire deeper familiarity and knowledge between diverse Muslim and non-Muslim communities to advance mutual well-being at this challenging time. We look forward to a constellation of bold and imaginative projects and their deep impact on campuses and communities.”

Individuals and consortia may apply and learn more information on the APAP website at buildingbridges.apap365.org. Applications will be reviewed and judged on a number of criteria, including a history of presenting culturally diverse programming, interdisciplinary approaches by campus and community partnerships to engage a range of audiences, organizational capacity, the artistic merit and quality of the project idea, and an evaluation design that will demonstrate discernible change in knowledge and attitudes about contemporary Muslim societies. The deadline for grant applications is March 3, 2016.

The recipients of the 2016-2019 Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity grants will be announced in September 2016.

About APAP

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is the national service, advocacy and membership organization for presenters of the performing arts. APAP is dedicated to developing and supporting a robust performing arts industry and the professionals who work within it. APAP|NYC conference information APAPNYC.org, APAP membership information APAP365.org ,Twitter @APAP365, Facebook facebook.com/APAPNYC.

About the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties. The Arts Program of DDCF focuses its support on contemporary dance, jazz and theatre artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org.

About the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art

The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA) is an operating foundation funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The mission of DDFIA is to improve the quality of people’s lives through the study, understanding and appreciation of Muslim arts and cultures. Based in New York, the Building Bridges Program is the grant-making program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and supports national efforts to engage U.S.-based Muslim and non-Muslim populations in arts or media arts-based experiences that foster relationships, increase understanding and reduce bias between communities. Through this approach, the program’s larger aim is to contribute toward a more just civil society and greater well-being among peoples. Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity program. Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA), the program supports efforts to focus on arts and media initiatives for American audiences that highlight the diversity of Muslim populations around the world, dispel negative stereotypes, and increase cultural understanding. This announcement coincides with our Building Bridges session at APAP|NYC 2016 on January 16, where young participants will share what they learned about building knowledge and changing perceptions about Muslim societies during their projects that were funded by the first round of grants.

For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org/programs/building-bridges.

Contact:

Jenny Thomas
Director, Communications and Marketing

202.207.3857

jthomas@artspresenters.org

Sarah Martin
Manager, Communications and Marketing
202.207.3853