Creative Hubs Grant
10 communities, 10 creative ideas to get off the ground. Meet the winners of the Emerging Creative Hubs Grant.
Let’s recap
Instead of looking towards the usual creative suspects in the US—like New York City, LA, and Austin—we set out to find unexpected communities that are building a name for themselves in the creative industries.
The grant
Once we found these emerging creative hubs, we wanted to help them thrive—so we created a grant, awarded to 10 creative nonprofits who are bettering their communities in these cities.
The winners
Meet the talented grant recipients who are striving to change their communities for the better.
to learn more
Atlanta
ChopArt
ChopArt provides dignity, opportunity, and community through arts immersion and mentorship to youth experiencing homelessness. Their grant funding will support the expansion of the Arts Leadership Academy.
Nashville
Turnip Green Creative Reuse
Turnip Green has established itself as an affordable and accessible art space for all through their “name your price” reused art materials and free after school care. Their grant funding will help expand and support their family-focused class offerings.
San Antonio
Luminaria
Luminaria is a dynamic nonprofit arts organization dedicated to producing and promoting the arts of San Antonio, Texas. Their grant funding will be put into their yearly Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, which serves as an inspiration for the whole community.
Memphis
Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group
Cazateatro shares Hispanic culture through performing arts to create a uniting bridge in their diverse community, with an emphasis on the importance of being bilingual. Their funding will directly support their Dia de los Muertos event, as well as ensure the continuation of their free community programs.
Norfolk
The Muse Writers Center
The Muse Writers Center fosters and celebrates the literary arts in their community through high-quality education, networking, and support for aspiring and experienced writers of all ages, backgrounds, and means. Their grant funding will be put directly into their Youth Program.
Boston
Artists for Humanity
AFH believes in the power of creative process for social change, emphasizing the life-changing effects of creative entrepreneurship on youth—regardless of their economic, racial, or social status. They’ll invest their grant funding in a new gamification project within the Creative Technology studio.
Honolulu
Hawaii Theatre Center
The Hawaii Theatre Center delivers unique and important services to the diverse community of Oahu, both as a presenter and as a performing arts venue for a broad range of entertainment, cultural and educational opportunities.
Madison
Urban Community Arts Network
Urban Community Arts Network (UCAN) is dedicated to supporting sustainability in the Madison Hip-Hop community and advocating for equity in the local arts and entertainment industry. Their grant funding will help them expand and continue their popular Mad Lit program.
Salt Lake City
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop mentors young people in the digital media arts by helping them feel empowered to affect positive change in their lives, communities, and the world. Their grant funding will go directly towards this year’s Youth Voices Summit and Spy Hop’s Heatwave Festival.
Atlanta
re:imagine/ATL
With an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, re:imagine/ATL trains, equips, and inspires Generation Z (those born between 1997 - 2012) to build careers in the creative and digital media industries. Their grant funding will go directly to this workforce development pipeline.
Atlanta
ChopArt
ChopArt provides dignity, opportunity, and community through arts immersion and mentorship to youth experiencing homelessness. Their grant funding will support the expansion of the Arts Leadership Academy.
Nashville
Turnip Green Creative Reuse
Turnip Green has established itself as an affordable and accessible art space for all through their “name your price” reused art materials and free after school care. Their grant funding will help expand and support their family-focused class offerings.
San Antonio
Luminaria
Luminaria is a dynamic nonprofit arts organization dedicated to producing and promoting the arts of San Antonio, Texas. Their grant funding will be put into their yearly Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, which serves as an inspiration for the whole community.
Memphis
Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group
Cazateatro shares Hispanic culture through performing arts to create a uniting bridge in their diverse community, with an emphasis on the importance of being bilingual. Their funding will directly support their Dia de los Muertos event, as well as ensure the continuation of their free community programs.
Norfolk
The Muse Writers Center
The Muse Writers Center fosters and celebrates the literary arts in their community through high-quality education, networking, and support for aspiring and experienced writers of all ages, backgrounds, and means. Their grant funding will be put directly into their Youth Program.
Boston
Artists for Humanity
AFH believes in the power of creative process for social change, emphasizing the life-changing effects of creative entrepreneurship on youth—regardless of their economic, racial, or social status. They’ll invest their grant funding in a new gamification project within the Creative Technology studio.
Honolulu
Hawaii Theatre Center
The Hawaii Theatre Center delivers unique and important services to the diverse community of Oahu, both as a presenter and as a performing arts venue for a broad range of entertainment, cultural and educational opportunities.
Madison
Urban Community Arts Network
Urban Community Arts Network (UCAN) is dedicated to supporting sustainability in the Madison Hip-Hop community and advocating for equity in the local arts and entertainment industry. Their grant funding will help them expand and continue their popular Mad Lit program.
Salt Lake City
Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop mentors young people in the digital media arts by helping them feel empowered to affect positive change in their lives, communities, and the world. Their grant funding will go directly towards this year’s Youth Voices Summit and Spy Hop’s Heatwave Festival.
Atlanta
re:imagine/ATL
With an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, re:imagine/ATL trains, equips, and inspires Generation Z (those born between 1997 - 2012) to build careers in the creative and digital media industries. Their grant funding will go directly to this workforce development pipeline.
“With this grant, we can continue to showcase exciting installations, performances, fine art, dance, and so much more for free to the public.”— Yadhira Lozano,
Executive Director, Luminaria
“WeTransfer's grant comes at a perfect time for our organization's growth! We are so excited to continue serving our teens and demonstrating how creative expression aids in trauma recovery and risk intervention in homeless teens.”— ChopArt
“This grant will help us continue offering free programs to those who wish to learn more about the Day of the Dead tradition, in addition to continuing our Day of the Dead Parade and festival, where the American and Latino community can meet and enjoy together.”— Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group
“Instead of paying for courses and equipment, participants earn a stipend as they build their portfolios and gain on-the-job experience. The funds will help us provide more training, mentorship, and direct resources to our Creators.”— Julie Straw,
Exec. Director of re:imagine/ATL
The Emerging Creative Hubs Index
Interested in hearing more about the creative communities that are taking off?
Explore the full Emerging Creative Hubs Index to see which location calls to you.