Catalyst Fund - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Catalyst Fund - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Status: Completed grant (2020)

Award Amount: Nearly $19,000

Funder: League of American Orchestras

Funding Source: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation with additional support from Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

Grant Type: One-year grant from second round of League's three-year, $2.1 million grant-making program

Geographic Scope: National program; 28 orchestras nationwide selected

Focus Areas:

Strengthen understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

Transform organizational culture

Anti-bias and anti-racism training

Institutional audits

Creation of formal EDI plans

Building consensus and integrating EDI into mission statements and culture

Community building through Learning Cohort

SLSO-Specific Activities:

Anti-bias and anti-racism training in collaboration with:

- Rebeccah Bennett
- Dr. Kira Banks of Emerging Wisdom, LLC
- Crossroad Antiracism Organizing & Training

Involvement of musicians, staff, board, volunteers, and community leaders

EDI taskforce created in 2015

Listening sessions conducted

EDI included as key component in 2016-2021 strategic plan

Grant Program Details:

Catalyst Fund supports orchestras' use of EDI practitioners

Learning Cohort enables past and present grantees to interact with colleagues

Remote and in-person convenings

Dedicated online forum

Context: Awarded in response to racial disparities and pandemic's unequal impact on communities of color

Contact:

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103

Phone: 314-533-2500

Email: info@slso.org