Detroit Symphony Orchestra

The Foundation places high priority on the enhancement of the City's major art and cultural resources because they contribute importantly to the quality of life of the metropolitan Detroit community.

The Foundation awards modest annual grants for the general program support of Detroit's major art and cultural organizations. Support is focused primarily on the organizational development of these institutions, rather than on artistic program development. The Foundation also supports selected facility improvement programs.

The Foundation is interested in supporting collaborative programs to build and advance a common agenda among arts and cultural organizations in Southeast Michigan. Programs funded in this area must have the intent of increasing awareness, participation, patronage, and funding of the arts throughout Southeast Michigan.

With the addition of the 15x15 Strategy to the Foundation’s agenda in 2008, the Foundation’s Arts mission has become more focused upon Greater Downtown and upon those artistic efforts that attract and retain a young, talented population. The Foundation recognizes the critical role that Detroit’s arts and culture institutions play in making Detroit an attractive and unique place for the young and talented to live and work.

2006-2007 Grant Highlights:

$400,000 of a $600,000 commitment to The Detroit Symphony Orchestra to support innovative enhancements to their summer programming that has increased the exposure of the Symphony in the community, leading to diversification of its audience base and greater financial stability.

$600,000 of a $1,000,000 commitment to The Detroit Institute of Arts for their Transformation Initiative, which has greatly enhanced the museum’s presentation of the total collection through a well planned reinstallation in newly renovated facilities.

$125,000 to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for the Cultural Alliance for Southeastern Michigan, a coalition of diverse arts organizations that are working to increase patronage, outreach and educational programs for the region’s cultural institutions.