2023 Grant Pool $282,000

Performance Grants 

Art and Culture Center/Hollywood   $14,000
The group exhibition “Living in Oblivion” will present research-based artwork in a variety of media that communicates how artists tell stories through their practice and personal perspectives. Artists selected will utilize research tools such as experimentation and collaboration. “Living in Oblivion” will also investigate and identify the problematics of information and misinformation, and the danger of false narratives.  The project will include guided tours, artist talks, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops and activities during the 67 days of exhibition, Free admission with a thematic art-making activity will be offered on the third Sunday of exhibition dates.

 

Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida   $8,500
Chipollino is a two-act ballet with the participation of more than 80 dancers on stage. It has become very popular in South Florida to the extent of becoming a symbol of classical ballet repertoire for younger audiences in our community. This enjoyable story tells the adventures of a group of characters representing fruits and vegetables living within The Town of Limonia, where Chipollino is a naughty little green onion who along with her friends Ms. Carrot and Ms. Cherry live mischievous and hilarious moments.

 

ArtServe   $8,000
Art Interventions for Environmental Resilience explores how artists and institutions alike are transforming the way art is created and experienced. Featuring a new wave of artists developing sustainable practices, we are encouraging not only the exploration of new ways in art-making, but inspiring social consciousness. In this exhibition, artists embrace this concept as a way to comprehend their own individual environmental footprint. The notion of sustainability in arts has led us to disruptive and innovative works that, using unconventional, creative mediums, send powerful messages about environmental resilience and climate injustice. Some of the areas of focus include Closed-Loop Fashion, Ecological Art, Land Art, Renewable Energy Sculpture, and Upcycling.

 

Brazilian Voices   $4,000
Brazilian Voices will create a sensory-friendly musical performance entitled “Quiet Bossa” featuring well-known American, Hispanic and Brazilian tunes designed especially for children and adults with different or differing abilities or on the autism spectrum. It consists of two one-hour, interactive performances of soothing bossa nova and jazz in a live program at the Broward Center. It will also combine artistic media projection with live music provided by the group’s multicultural singers and musicians. In addition to the 10-15 Brazilian Voices volunteer member-singers, the group will also collaborate, rehearse and perform with professional paid musicians including Special Guest, Nestor Torres.

 

Broward Center for the Performing Arts   $14,000
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts will present New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) in their critically acclaimed production of the famous operetta, The Mikado. The Mikado – hailed as the most popular piece of musical theatre of all time – is a satire on British politics of the 1800s. Contrasting with historical treatments of The Mikado, the company’s unique production represents a great deal of work between NYGASP, and the Asian-American theatrical community to promote diversity, equity and inclusive practices with classic works of art. Combining this world-renowned “light opera” with corresponding activities, such as a pre-show lecture and virtual workshops or chat-backs with the cast will engage audiences with this art form and help extend cultural engagement beyond the theater seats for all.

 

 

Chopin Foundation   $5,000
The Chopin for All free concerts have been held annually in Broward County since 1999, are presented at the Library’s 300 seat auditorium and open to everyone. The concerts traditionally feature young American pianists who are on the verge of becoming well-known concert artists, and who are capable of achieving international careers. Seven concerts per calendar year are presented monthly from January through May with a break in the summer months and continue in November and December. The Chopin for All free concerts are very popular with the Broward community, especially seniors, families with children, and individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford the cost of a comparable performance elsewhere. The pianists are encouraged to further engage the audience with inciteful commentary about the repertoire and why it is special.

 

Dance NOW! Miami   $9,500
The Relativity of Icarus will be a restaged version of the 1974 iconic ballet of the same name, originally choreographed for the Joffery Ballet.  It will be directed by former Joffrey dancer Cameron Basden with a live performance of the original score by Gerhard Samuel. ­­­­­­The finished piece will be presented as part of the Joffrey’s 70th anniversary celebration in May 2023 with one performance at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

 

Embrace Music Foundation   $3,000
Rhythms of Africa is a musical journey that describes the movement of ancient rhythms sprung from the souls of vibrant cultures and carried by hand and heart from Africa to the Caribbean and the Americas. The show caps a series of 14 two-hour workshops conducted for 25 – 40 students, most musical novices, and pairs them with professional musicians who join them on stage before friends, family, and their community The 75–90-minute performances use a full complement of lights, stage setting, sound, and professional musicians who accompany the children through several numbers. The overall experience is uplifting as well as educational and entertaining.

 

Fantasy Theatre Factory   $14,000
Fantasy Theatre Factory proposes two unique programs, with professional actors:
Program 1: HAPPY – Healing Arts Performance Program for Youth will serve hospitalized children, families and staff at Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital. FTF’s innovative program, featuring shows and character interactions, will lighten the serious side of hospitalization.

Program 2: Family Enrichment Series featuring “Wizards and Dragons and Books… Oh My!” Performances are designed to be intergenerational affairs, bringing together children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles– for a memorable cultural experience.

 

Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre   $9,500
As part of its 2023 Winter/Spring Performance Series, FLCT will produce one Circus Troupe production in February 2023 and one Family Series production in April/May 2023. Titles will be announced in the summer of 2022.  FLCT shows are high-quality theatrical productions, directed, produced, and designed by experienced theatre professionals. They feature performers and technical crew ranging in age from 8-18 in grades 2-12. Circus Troupe performers train for months in preparation of their annual Cirque-du-Soleil style production, featuring tumbling, clowning, lyra, silks, trapeze, mini-trampoline and more. Family Series shows are family-friendly Broadway-style musicals.

 

Florida Grand Opera   $14,000
The text “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!” from the aria “Largo al factotum” makes it’s way back to the Florida Grand Opera stage in the company’s production of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, considered one of the greatest comic operas ever composed. Opera fans will be familiar with one of Giacomo Puccini’s most well-known one-act operas, Gianni Schicchi, which is a comedy beginning with the Donati family grieving the death of their patriarch, Buoso. After discovering that Buoso left his wealth to a monastery and not them, the family contacts Gianni Schicchi, a self-made lower class man, to assist them in rewriting the will. In an evening full of twists and turns, Michael Ching’s opera, Buoso’s Ghost dives deeper into the plot. The composer of Buoso’s Ghost, Michael Ching, will conduct both operas.

 

Florida Singing Sons   $9,000
The Spring 2023 Pops Concert is the Florida Singing Sons’ performance showcasing the choristers’ artistic/professional achievements for the year. Performed at the historical Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, the show features a variety of selections drawn from the ancient Boy choir tradition, popular movie themes, and pop music to entertain audience members across generations.

 

Florida Youth Orchestra   $10,000
The 2023 Spotlight Concert entitled “The Best Music Ever Written” features gifted young musicians, ages 9-18. from three premier ensembles, Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Strings, and Chamber Strings. The program will feature selections that are considered to be among the best examples of classical music.  The conductors will also provide a pre- concert discussion on the “features” in each piece that highlight why it has attracted the world’s attention.

 

Fort Lauderdale Children’s Ballet Theatre   $4,000
The Fort Lauderdale Children’s Ballet Theatre program “Cinderella”, will showcase the professional and artistic achievements of over 100 young dancers from all over the Tri-County area age 5-18 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. This 90-minute classical ballet with original music by Prokofiev, is a transformational experience for children and families to have in an accessible, delightful way. Our audience is primarily first-time theater attendees consisting of young children and families. Our young demographic is not only exposed to the ballet for their first time, but to the theater itself for the first time.

 

Fushu Daiko (Japan Arts)   $5,000
During the 2023 season the artists compose new works and explore artistic expressions. Regular physical exercises and stamina training are completed to perform at a peak level. Traditional and folkloric arrangements are rehearsed constantly to preserve and spread them. All this work culminates in a high energy traditional Daiko drumming concert with a minimum of a four-piece musical ensemble of professional performers.

 

Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida   $9,500
Songs of the Phoenix is a live concert co-commissioned by a handful of LGBTQ+ choral groups from around the nation who engaged a diverse array of composers and lyricists, ranging from emerging talents to legendary artists. Among the twelve writers involved are Melissa Li, a cis woman of Chinese descent in her 20s; Stephen Sondheim, who contributed before his passing; Joriah Kwame, a Black gay man in his 20s; Stephen Schwartz, who is Jewish and a legendary Broadway composer; and Diana Syrse, who is Mexican and bisexual. These revered artists responded with works that have been joined to create a musical journey entitled Songs of the Phoenix, a compelling look at the COVID-19 pandemic, our shared losses, and our ability to move forward through hope.

 

Gold Coast Jazz Society   $5,000
In our 31st year of jazz presentation, the Gold Coast Jazz Society will provide the 2023 Jazz Project which will feature four concerts of internationally recognized jazz artists and one free community jazz performance. Proposed artists will include the Grammy nominated jazz pianist/arranger/producer, Shelly Berg with his Trio o; the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Delfeayo Marsalis and his Quintet; the international jazz vocalist Stacey Kent and her trio and the renowned Jeff Hamilton Trio. All of these concerts will take place at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Amaturo Theater.

 

Island City Stage   $10,000
Island City Stage’s theatrical production is “Tracy Jones” by Stephen Kaplan. In this hilarious, yet poignant comedy. Tracy Jones is throwing a party to which she’s invited every woman in the world who is also named Tracy Jones. Tracy Jones’ epic loneliness is about to be tested beyond anything she ever imagined. The story of Tracy Jones is especially significant to current times when many connections are online, remote, and virtual. For Island City Stage, of great significance is the heterosexual main character. An objective of producing this play is to demonstrate the commonalities among all people in seeking connection and love and attract a broader and more diverse audience that recognized the similarities, rather than differences, in most stories, strengthening allies with the LGBT+ community.

Master Chorale of South Florida   $10,000
The 2022-2023 season will be the organization’s 20th anniversary season and a season of celebration culminating in the presentation of Giuseppe Verdi’s monumental Requiem Mass during the Spring of 2023. Scored for full symphony orchestra, massive choral forces, and operatic soloists of the highest order, Verdi’s Requiem has established itself as one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. Combining his dramatic operatic style with the text of the Catholic mass for the dead, Verdi created a requiem by which all others are compared. Deeply moving as an exaltation of humanity, it seeks out the extremes of joy, sadness, fear, hope, and peace.

 

Miami City Ballet   $14,000
During the 2022/2023 season, the second program features masters of modern ballet. It is a riveting mixed bill that celebrates the master choreographers of modern dance, from its early beginnings with Martha Graham and José Limón to current masters Pontus Lidberg and Kyle Abraham. This will be the first time that Miami City Ballet performs a work by Martha Graham. A major highlight of this program is a new commission by 2013 MacArthur Fellow Kyle Abraham. Last presented by Miami City Ballet in 1988, Moor’s Pavane is José Limón’s 21-minute interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Modern Masters closes with a commissioned work by award-winning Swedish choreographer and filmmaker Pontus Lidberg, featuring extensive digital video mapping and intertwined with Phillip Glass’ virtuoso Violin Concerto.

 

New City Players   $10,000
In the critically acclaimed play “Pipeline” by Dominique Morisseau, the title of the play refers to the school to prison pipeline.  This describes the phenomenon by which a disproportionate number of minority students are affected by, and ultimately incarcerated, due to harsh policies within the education system, and systemic racial bias among the enforcing entities. Told through one family’s struggles it raises important questions about education, race, and privilege in today’s America. There will be 15 performances at Island City Stage, Wilton Manors.

Old Dillard Foundation   $6,000
“Influencers”, an inaugural project, is the opportunity to capture the rich history and contributions of African Americans who have made an indelible impact on our County. The program will be an ongoing project featuring prominent individuals through a photo essay and film. Four men have been identified to begin the legacy program. Samuel F. Morrison, an American librarian, speaker, and author. He was director of the Broward County Library system for 13 years and the catalyst behind the system’s establishment of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Derek T. Davis is a cultural publicist, historian and advocate who has successfully managed historic properties, visual arts exhibits, and performing arts projects for decades. Christopher A. Dorsey is the Director of Jazz Studies credited with putting our community on the map with his award-winning music program at Dillard High School. Perry E. Thurston, Jr served in Tallahassee for 15 years in both the House and the Senate receiving numerous honors and humanitarian awards. The premiere includes music and spoken word artists.

 

Seraphic Fire   $14,000
Seraphic Fire (Seraphic) will present five concert programs themed around contrasting ideas: Old/New, Sacred/Profane, and First/Last. Old/New features a performance of Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs and other songs from folk traditions.  Sacred/Profane explores the contrasts between religious and secular music. First/Last, conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley will include three world premieres of new commissions. A highlight of the program will be Seraphic Fire’s first-ever performance of Thomas Tallis’ “Spem in alium”, a 40-part Renaissance motet.  The third annual Enlightenment Festival will consist of two back-to-back concert programs over two weeks, the first featuring cantatas of Bach, Buxtehude, and Vivaldi, and the second featuring two of Bach’s oratorios, both conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley.

 

Slow Burn Theatre   $14,00
Spring 2023 will be Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious when everyone’s favorite, practically perfect nanny takes the stage in ‘Mary Poppins.’ Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, the musical features music and lyrics by the Sherman Brothers, with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, that is beautifully interwoven in Julian Fellowes’ book that blends original stories with the acclaimed film. Unforgettable songs including ‘A Spoonful of Sugar,’ ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee,’ and ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite,’ and breathtaking dance numbers create an enchanting theatrical treat for all ages all under the expert direction and choreography of Slow Burn’s own Patrick Fitzwater!

 

South Florida Chamber Ensemble   $4,000
Waterways is a partnership with WaterAid US and the South Florida Water Management District to raise awareness about the plight of our planet’s water supply. Each concert includes a discussion about ways to protect and preserve our water. Each program contains a diverse set of composers including traditional Europeans, women, BIPOC, American composers, disabled composers, and living composers. Every program ends with an audience sing-a-long of a piece that connects to the concert’s theme. Patrons are invited to a round table discussion after the performance to share ideas. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to WaterAid US.  The four different programs will be performed in Miramar and Deerfield Beach.

 

 

South Florida Symphony   $14,000
Prepare for an extraordinary concert experience when living legend Svetlana Smolina, piano, takes on the staggering virtuosity of “Rach 3,” a piece so demanding it is often described as the Mount Everest of concertos. Renowned conductor Sebrina María Alfonso leads the orchestra in another colorful crowd-pleaser, Bruckner’s greatest work, “Te Deum,” featuring four world-renowned soloists plus the 95 member South Florida Symphony Chorus that includes singers from Barry University and local high schools.

 

The Girl Choir of South Florida   $7,300
The musical selections on this program celebrate the myriad ways in which people discover heaven on earth. Andrea Ramsey’s “Heaven Unfolding,” is about nature from the “vast expanses of the universe” to the “smallest interstitial spaces of cell and atom.” Haitian-American composer Sydney Guillaume’s “Akeem” is a lush and moving statement of love written in honor of the birth of his nephew. Even in the midst of great tragedy and strife, we may find “Sunshine and Cloudless Sky,” as in Linda Tutas Haugen’s musical setting of The Diary of Anne Frank. Asking life’s big questions, Moira Smiley’s shape note composition “Lewis” mines the depth of the human experience. In these pieces, as well as professionally choreographed works from the pop, jazz, and musical theatre genres, stopping and noticing the beauty all around, things earthly can become ethereal.

 

Education Grants

Art and Culture Center/Hollywood  $5500
The Summer Arts Outreach program will provide K-12 youth with an interactive and accessible arts-education experience during the Center’s contemporary gallery exhibition, “Abstracted.” Through guided tours, artist talks and hands-on workshops inspired by the exhibition, youth will learn how artists create their artworks and then make their own abstract work at a dedicated art-making space in Center galleries. Workshops will include abstract-making methods such as Shibori tie dye, cyanotype printmaking, and paint splattering and provide background on color theory and fundamentals, teaching visitors of all ages to approach abstraction as an opportunity to trust their own instincts and creative intelligence.

 

Ashanti Cultural Arts   $5000
Turn Around Arts will be two 1 hour-long sessions in classes in Fine Arts weekly and during the Summer. The sessions will include Art, Literacy, Dance, and Music classes. Academic aspects will be merged with the arts using painting sculptures, collages, group projects, photography, and other forms of art mediums. A music component will include African drumming to build the skills of non-verbal communication, collaboration, and accountability. Dance increases creativity and confidence. At the end of the school session, the children will present a showcase of their work. This project focuses on five aspects to improve students’ life and academic skills.: Creativity, Problem-Solving, Improve Reading and Verbal Skills, Better Writing skills, and Social Relationships.

 

Broward Center  $5500
The Broward Center will present Step Afrika! in a two-day residency at The Parker, including at least one public performance, one free performance for approximately 1,100 K-12 students as part of the annual Student Enrichment in the Arts (SEAS) series, and one or more educational workshops that promote learning and engagement through dance. Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, which has evolved into one of America’s cultural exports. Performances integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation, and the blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique. Step Afrika! also promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. Students and teachers will also receive a study guide in advance to promote a more interactive experience.

 

Fantasy Theatre Factory  $5700
Can the Three Mess-keteers put a stop to the Dirty Duke’s deeds and rescue the land? Physical comedy, audience participation, and even a bit of exciting swordplay, bring this adventure, “Let’s Save the Earth! Featuring the Three MESS-keteers”, to life as the children learn that when it comes to the environment, it’s “all for one and one for all!” The project will reach 2,500+ under-served elementary school children in 15 Title I (low-income) elementary schools and other educational facilities serving under-served elementary school children in Broward County. Each program day begins with a school-wide assembly featuring a fully produced production of FTF’s Three MESS-keteers, followed by a hands-on educational workshop.

 

Florida Singing Sons  $2500
1975, Florida Singing Sons has provided quality musical training to the boys of South Florida. The Boy Choral Education Program operates three choirs delineated by the maturity of choristers’ voices and music theory achievement. All ensembles include multiple performance opportunities as a stand-alone choir and in collaboration with other choirs at contract performances, and national/international tours. Rehearsals and theory classes for each choir are conducted late afternoon and evenings, Sundays through Thursdays. Additional rehearsals are conducted in preparation for specific concerts. Florida Singing Sons develop self-discipline, leadership skills, and positive experiences that enrich their lives for the future in many ways.

 

Gold Coast Jazz Society  $3500
The Gold Coast Jazz Society will provide up to 10 presentations of JazzSLAM (Jazz Supports Language Arts & Math), in Broward County Public Elementary Schools from January through May of 2023 at no cost to each participating elementary school. JazzSLAM targets 4th and 5th grade students and includes a one-hour live and interactive jazz presentation with a professional jazz quartet. The program integrates the music of jazz with elements of Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies to help students with critical thinking skills and strategies for test taking. It is designed to support teacher’s efforts to raise student’s test scores, motivate students to learn how to express themselves within the confines of a given form, and supports teaching with the Aural, Visual & Tactile benefits of music. Students learn how musical forms relate to concepts such as essay writing, how musical rhythmic patterns relate to mathematical concepts such as percentages and how the ethnic origins of jazz relate to the areas of geography and social studies.

 

Old Dillard Foundation  $5000
Creating Hit Makers is a unique after school music program dedicated to equipping low-income students with not only music instruction – reading, writing, singing, and playing – but also the skill set to run and operate a music business. The curriculum includes marketing and promotion, writing music, creating a published music catalog, setting up the corporation, event planning, recording, music and film video, and professional studio time. The goal is to ensure the success of all its students by providing children in the lower social-economic status and varying ability levels with access to rigorous academic instruction and expanded opportunities utilizing music programming.