American Studio Orchestra receives 2009 "Confetti grant" from the Baltimore Community Foundation

(Baltimore, MD, 12/29/09) The Baltimore Community Foundation recently announced $30,400 in small grants to 15 arts organizations in Baltimore City. The "confetti grants" of $2,000 each were awarded to local arts groups that, though small, have made significant contributions to Baltimore's vibrant arts and cultural scene in 2009.

"These grants represent BCF's excitement about the role of the arts in helping Baltimore support a growing economy where all have the opportunity to thrive," noted BCF President and CEO Tom Wilcox. "Many American cities have rebounded on the strength of a dynamic, emerging arts scene, and BCF is proud to celebrate and encourage the young and emerging arts professionals whose entrepreneurial and transformative work is an important asset to Baltimore."

The $2,000 "confetti grants" were awarded not only to celebrate the small arts groups that have helped enrich Baltimore's exciting arts and cultural scene, but also to encourage these artists to continue to share their creative work with each other and attract new artists and audiences to their performances and exhibitions. The innovative, quirky, and inspired work supported by the grants includes musical performances, nonprofit theater productions, speaker series, art galleries, and exhibition and performance spaces. Applications for the grants were not solicited.