You probably know the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a big deal in the world of food. But you might not have known that the nine-day event is actually a fundraiser to provide grants to local non-profit organizations and their arts-related projects.
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The Scottsdale League for the Arts is the organization that puts on the culinary event each year -- or rather, its 50 or so members do. And for the last 35 years, they've donated 100 percent of the proceeds back to the community's arts organizations and arts education programs. Since 2002 they've provided more than $3.2 million to such programs and projects.
This year they're preparing to dispense $200,00 worth of grants ranging in size from one to 15 thousand dollars. The competitive grants will be available to "agencies that directly provide services in the arts or arts education programs within Maricopa County." More details about the requirements are available online.
And for the first time, the organization is asking applicants to also submit their financial information to the Cultural Data Project, a financial management tool for arts and cultural organizations. The database allows grant-providers to compare organizations' data in a uniform format and will help create a source of data for researchers.
Applications for the grants are due by August 8 and are available online now. They are scheduled to be funded mid-September of this year.
Activities funded by the Scottsdale League for the Arts include:
• Growth and development of arts programming, including artists' salaries and supplies, in the visual or performing arts.
• Arts education and outreach, including instruction, transportation and supplies for creative, hands-on learning experiences in the visual, performing or culinary arts.
• Opportunities for children and youth to observe and experience the visual and/or performing arts.
• Opportunities for community members to experience and appreciate the visual and/or performing arts.
For more information visit the Scottsdale League for the Arts website.
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