The League of American Orchestras has awarded grants to 23 U.S. orchestras to help deepen understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to foster effective EDI practices. Ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 each, the one-year grants comprise the first round of The Catalyst Fund, the League’s new three-year, $2.1 million grant-making program made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation with additional support from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation. The Catalyst Fund grants enable orchestras to engage skilled EDI practitioners to strengthen their knowledge of the issues pertaining to EDI and to create strategies that are relevant to their communities. The 2019 Catalyst Fund recipients are: Albany Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Handel and Haydn Society, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, New Jersey Youth Symphony, New World Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Oregon Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
The League is accepting applications from member orchestras for the 2020 Catalyst Fund through December 6, 2019. Visit americanorchestras.org for information.
