Announcements

Further Announcement on September 11 Fund to Assist Arts Organizations

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced today the first three grants, totaling approximately $8 million, to be made from the Foundation’s special $50 million fund to assist New York City cultural and performing arts organizations (and public parks) that were directly affected by the events of September 11, 2001. The recipients are three service organizations—Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York ($2.65 million), American Music Center ($2.65 million) and New York Foundation for the Arts ($2.65 million)—which, in turn, will make grants to small and mid-sized performing arts organizations. The requests of larger performing arts organizations, as well as requests from other cultural organizations, will be evaluated directly by the Foundation.

The grants were approved by a special Trustee Committee chaired by the Foundation’s Chairman, Hanna H. Gray, President Emeritus of the University of Chicago. The other members of the Committee are W. Taylor Reveley, III, Dean of the William and Mary Law School, and William G. Bowen, the Foundation’s President. In making the announcement, Mr. Bowen stated, “This is just the beginning. We wanted to focus initially on the needs of small and mid-sized performing arts organizations that have been severely affected, and we concluded that these three service organizations provide the best mechanism to reach the smaller theaters, music and dance organizations. We intend to turn next to the immediate needs of small and mid-sized museums and other cultural organizations before evaluating the requests of the larger organizations, including requests still being submitted.” Since announcing the creation of the special $50 million fund in late November, the Foundation has received nearly 300 requests for assistance. Small and mid-sized performing arts organizations that have already applied directly to the Foundation are being notified of the status of their proposals. Organizations need not submit additional information unless specifically asked to do so by either the service organizations or the Foundation. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a private foundation, with assets of approximately $4 billion, which makes grants on a selective basis to institutions in higher education; museums and art conservation; performing arts; population; conservation and the environment; and public affairs. Information about the Foundation, including its annual reports and announcements concerning this special fund, is available on its Web site (http://www.mellon.org). The Foundation does not make grants directly to individuals.