Ford Foundation dedicates $100M for new art spaces and projects, expansion of existing spaces

Charity to give $100M in grants for new art spaces

NEW YORK — A charitable foundation has begun a 10-year, $100 million initiative to help artists and arts organizations create new spaces and projects around the country.

The Ford Foundation said Monday that the support of the arts was even more vital in the current economic downturn.

Its Supporting Diverse Art Spaces initiative says a strong cultural environmental has a role in revitalizing local economies.

Under the initiative, the foundation has already awarded a $1 million grant. It will turn an abandoned East Harlem high school into artist housing and a hub for community arts.

In Seattle, the foundation’s support created a permanent home in a renovated historic hotel for the Wing Luke Museum.

On the Net: www.fordfoundation.org

(This version CORRECTS title of the initiative to Supporting Diverse Art Spaces, instead of Supporting Art Spaces Initiative.)