CACHE awards go to 22 Northwest Arkansas nonprofits

Northwest ArkansasTourism / Heritage

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) January 28, 2021 1:30 pm 1,032 views 

The Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange (CACHE) at the Northwest Arkansas Council recently awarded $250,000 in additional grants to various arts and culture nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas. The funds are in addition to $500,000 CACHE distributed in May through its bridge fund program made possible by the Walton Family Foundation.

“CACHE is proud to partner with many of the region’s resilient cultural organizations to reimagine the structures and systems they use to create and operate,” said Allyson Esposito, CACHE executive director.

The financial support comes as many organizations are deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Esposito said the round of funding provides support for local nonprofits to develop long-term strategies around operations, infrastructure and creative production in response to the ongoing changes in the arts and culture sector amid the pandemic.

Arkansas Soul, one of the grant recipients, said the funds will support a number of initiatives including a platform for Black artists, a resource for Black audiences and a home for black, indigenous and people of color-centered contact

“The pandemic made it incredibly difficult for us to stay connected and build valuable relationships in marginalized regional communities. We’re grateful and eager to use this opportunity as a bridge to meet diverse audiences where they are, increase our reach to them and mark a path forward in amplifying Black voices,” said Niketa Reed, founder and executive director of Arkansas Soul.

A volunteer panel of community arts leaders made recommendations on which organizations should receive funding based on the strength and feasibility of each organization’s plan to adapt in response to the current pandemic and the organizational budget size. There were 50 organizations that applied for the funding through the program. The following nonprofits received grants:

  • Ability Tree
  • Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
  • Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Arkansas Soul Media
  • The Art Experience
  • Art Feeds
  • Arts Live Theatre
  • Arts Ventures
  • Canopy NWA
  • The House of Songs
  • Latin Art Organization of Arkansas
  • Marshallese Educational Initiative
  • Mount Sequoyah Center
  • Museum of Native American History
  • NWA Ballet Theatre
  • Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society
  • Open Mouth Literary Center
  • PIXEL – A School for Media Arts
  • Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation
  • Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
  • Trike Theatre