Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

College and University Presenters Program

Purpose

The College and University Presenters Program provides artistic program and matching endowment grants for leading campus-based presenters, and supports a re-granting program for innovative projects that integrate the performing arts into campus life and the surrounding community.

Developed under the Arts Program's prior grant-making strategy, the Leading College and University Presenters Program is concluding and will not be renewed.

Background

As many as 2,500 performing arts presenters are located on campuses in the United States, with budgets that range from $100,000 to several million dollars. Leading campus-based presenters not only showcase performing artists, they also commission new works, engage artists in extended residencies and teaching opportunities, and provide artists with access to the technological, intellectual and physical resources of their larger academic institutions.

In recent years, college and university presenters – including their provosts, presidents and deans – have spearheaded and funded their own efforts to re-examine the role of the arts and creativity in American higher education; engage and expand diverse audiences on and off campus; and collaborate with a full range of academic departments – from the arts to biotechnology to political and computer sciences.

In 2005, the DDCF launched a nine-month exploration of the field that surveyed approximately 100 college- and university-based performing arts presenters, provosts and other academics, as well as stand-alone presenters, artists and other stakeholders. The foundation’s findings led to the development of the College and University Presenters Program to help build on the momentum within the field and strengthen the ability of campus-based presenters to support and collaborate with performing artists.

Leading College and University Presenters Program

Grant Details

In 2006, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation awarded grants totaling $3 million over three years to support artistic programs and matching endowments at three leading campus-based presenters.

Grantees are required to match the foundation’s artistic programming support on a 1:1 basis and the endowment funds on a 2:1 basis. Once established, the endowments will generate a funding stream dedicated to supporting artistic programs over the long-term.

Process

In 2005, a Request for Proposals was issued to seven campus-based presenters identified by the foundation as leaders in the field. A peer-review panel evaluated the applications and made funding recommendations based on artistic excellence, exceptional organizational capacity and financial health, strong university commitment and support, and the presenters’ impact on their communities served. As part of the application process, site visits to each presenter also were conducted.

Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program

Grant Details

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters administers this re-granting program, which was launched in 2006 with a DDCF grant of $1.5 million. The program provides funding for innovative projects that deepen the integration of the performing arts into the educational, service and scholarly missions of the academy. In 2007, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters will competitively award six to 12 two-year grants to campus-based presenters ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 each.

Eligibility Criteria

Successful applicants must be designated as the performing arts presenting organization or presenter for a college or university; must have a demonstrated commitment to enhancing presenting from the institution’s top administrators; and must have a history of effective audience development on and off campus.

Process

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is now reviewing preliminary applications, which were due on June 15, 2006. Finalists will be invited to submit full proposals in the fall, and a peer-review panel will select projects for funding. To learn more, visit www.artspresenters.org or call the Association of Performing Arts Presenters at (888) 820-2787.