Cultural Engagement, Youth Development, and the Arts

The Foundation has had a longstanding interest in the arts, reflecting Benjamin Altman’s personal commitment and our belief in the essential role that cultural engagement and the arts play in enriching the lives of New Yorkers and creating new avenues of exploration and opportunity for the city’s young people. Given our particular focus on issues of access and inclusion, the Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects that achieve results aligned with the objectives outlined below. As a general rule, the programs that we support take place outside of the public schools. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

Promote positive youth development among underserved youth through engagement in arts, cultural, and other unique programs that provide sequential opportunities to participate over an extended period of time.

Results Sought:

  1. Significantly increase mastery of program-specific competencies and developmentally appropriate life skills
  2. Prepare participants to transition successfully to post-secondary and/or professional opportunities, including employment in the creative economy

2018 Grants

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

Ballet Tech Foundation, Inc.
$50,000 (over two years)
To help support citywide auditions for public elementary school children and provide tuition-free ballet training, from beginner through the pre-professional level, for students from underserved backgrounds

Beam Center Inc.
$50,000
To support BeamWorks Youth Apprentices and Teen Instructors, a training program for low-income public high school students

Groundswell Community Mural Project, Inc.
$70,000 (over two years)
To help support the implementation of its recent strategic plan, including initiatives to enhance Master Studio programs and evaluation tools

Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc.
$50,000
To help support the Middle School Jazz Academy and continue work with MSJA alumni

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Company, Inc.
$100,000 (over two years)
To provide capacity building support for Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center

Queens Council on the Arts, Inc.
$50,000 (over two years)
To help support the High School to Art School Portfolio Development Program

Reel Works Teen Filmmaking
$50,000 (over fifteen months)
To support MediaMKRS, an innovative digital credentialing platform for media studies and workforce readiness in film and entertainment

Row New York, Inc.
$150,000 (over two years)
To provide general operating support for Row New York's youth development work

Staten Island Children's Museum
$25,000
To help support the Museum Intern and Ambassador Program for teens