Taking unprecedented action in a lean economic climate, the Board of the Francis Family Foundation recently awarded The Charlotte Street Foundation a grant for $40,000. The first $20,000 is earmarked for the organization’s annual general operating support. The second $20,000 is a strategic investment in recognition of Charlotte Street’s excellent work and their mission to “…support and recognize outstanding artists in Greater Kansas City; present, promote, enhance and encourage the visual, performing and interdisciplinary arts; and, foster economic development in the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri.”
The Board’s intent was to infuse additional funding to a nimble, collaborative organization that dollar-for-dollar positively impacts the Francis Family Foundation’s own long-term community outcome for Arts and Culture: “To support development of the greater Kansas City area as a creative community recognized as a regional hub for excellence in arts and culture, rich with expression of diverse cultures and affording access to all levels of creative participation.”
The Charlotte Street Foundation was established more than a decade ago in response to needs articulated by artists and those who saw the arts as a valuable creative, social and economic resource to the city. In spite of a rich creative environment, it was feared that Kansas City was losing many of its artists because so few important vehicles for valuable early- and mid-career recognition were offered. Opportunities for exhibition and critical reviews were severely limited. There was no coordinating body with credibility among artists taking the lead in actively promoting individual artists and collaboration among disciplines.
Charlotte’s Street vision for the future included a vibrant artist-friendly, artist-supporting city. To that end, the provide annual cash awards to visual and generative performing artists, provide free studios as performance and exhibition spaces, coordinate public exposure, provide educational, and professional development and advocate and plan on behalf of artists with philanthropic, business and civic leaders.
The mission and vision of The Charlotte Street Foundation mirrors the Francis Family Foundation’s 2008-2012 Strategic Plan especially as it promotes and sustains regional excellence in the arts, enables greater access, enhances a nurturing environment for training and development, and supports public engagement and advocacy efforts. Since 2004, the Foundation has awarded Charlotte Street $123,000 in grant monies. In the early years, they received grants through the “Small Arts Grants Program” as a grassroots arts organization with a budget under $300.000.