The 2020 Grant Competition Seeks Arts, Multimedia and Pop-Culture Project Proposals to Advance Relationships and Understanding Among Muslims and Neighboring Communities
New York, N.Y., March 18, 2020 – The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art today announced the launch of the Building Bridges Program’s seventh annual funding competition for grants to support arts, multimedia and popular-culture projects that strengthen ties between U.S. Muslim communities and their neighbors. Through the yearly competition, which debuted in 2013, the foundation has awarded approximately $11.29 million to 66 unique projects to advance cross-community social transformation in more than 24 states.
“The artistic imagination is a highly effective force for envisioning unique pathways to building empathy and reminding us of our common humanity,” said Zeyba Rahman, senior program officer for the Building Bridges Program. “We are excited to launch this competition and are honored to continue supporting daring, creative approaches—both virtual and live—to strengthening cross-community bonds and celebrating diversity. Our grantees have repeatedly demonstrated how bold use of storytelling through the arts, multimedia and popular culture leads to meaningful social change for greater mutual well-being and a more just civil society.”
The Building Bridges Program is the sole ongoing national program of its kind in a private foundation. Through its annual grant competition, the program provides planning and implementation support to grantees for cultural projects to improve relationships within a myriad of U.S. communities that include Muslim residents. Organizations funded to date represent diversity in geography, population, disciplines and mission. For more information about the Request for Proposals, please visit the Building Bridges 2020 Grants Program webpage.
About the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
The Building Bridges Program is the grant-making arm of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, which is an extension of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The program supports national efforts, working with U.S. Muslims, to increase mutual understanding among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, more inclusive communities. The mission of DDFIA is to promote the study, understanding and appreciation of Muslim arts and cultures. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org/what-we-fund/building-bridges.
About the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org.
Contact:
Kristin Roth-Schrefer
Communications Director
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation &
Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
212.974.7003 | kschrefer@ddcf.org
Delaney Dryfoos
Communications Assistant
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation &
Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
212.974.7006 | ddryfoos@ddcf.org