San Francisco — The James Irvine Foundation today announced $3.7 million in grants to 13 arts institutions in the Central Coast that are committed to broadening and diversifying their audiences and strengthening their financial sustainability. The organizations selected this year for the Arts Regional Initiative are planning to use the grants to advance financial sustainability within a challenging economic environment and to increase cultural participation from underrepresented communities. While each institution is developing specific plans, initiative participants are implementing operational changes to recalibrate for the current economy, strengthening and diversifying board leadership, and developing culturally relevant artistic programs to attract diverse audiences and deepen their relationships with existing audiences.

"These Central Coast arts organizations are vital anchor institutions within their communities and provide an array of important opportunities for people to engage with the arts," noted Josephine Ramirez, Arts Program Director for the Irvine Foundation. "These grants represent our continued commitment to them as they explore new ways of achieving financial sustainability and attracting culturally diverse audiences."

The organizations represent a mix of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, opera, theater, visual arts and multidisciplinary arts. The grants will be awarded over three years and grantees will share resources, best practices and lessons learned. A complete list of grantees follows: