Barr’s goal for its arts and culture grantmaking is to enhance the cultural vitality of Boston. Beginning in 2011, the Foundation will focus its arts and culture investments in two areas: mid-sized arts organizations and youth arts.

Mid-sized Arts Organizations

Supporting artistic quality and long-term strength of mid-sized arts and cultural institutions.

Mid-sized arts organizations play a vital role in Boston’s cultural landscape. The Foundation seeks to strengthen such institutions so that they continue to thrive into the future. In 2011, the Foundation issued a request for concept process to identify a cohort of mid-sized arts organizations to support over a period of three to five years. For more details on this new initiative, click here.

Youth Arts

Supporting opportunities for young people to experience and pursue excellence in the arts both in- and out-of-school.

Barr’s investments in youth arts focus on expanding three types of opportunities for young people in Boston: in-school arts instruction in the Boston Public Schools, out-of-school programming that allows young people to engage directly with working artists, and opportunities to pursue mastery in an art form. The Foundation supports arts instruction in the Boston Public Schools through participation in the BPS Arts Expansion Initiative hosted by EdVestors. Barr will continue its support for the Culture for Change Initiative, which connects young people with working artists to develop projects focused on social change. In early 2012, the Foundation issued a request for concept papers from organizations offering opportunities for Boston youth to pursue artistic mastery – in order to form a cohort, which it will support over a period of three to five years. For more details on this initiative, click here.

In addition to the primary areas of focus outlined above, the Foundation will also explore ways to invest in the arts as a vehicle for raising awareness and inspiring action related to climate change.