ABOUT US

The Business Consortium for Arts Support awarded $749,500 for general operating support in 2007 to 31 regional arts and cultural groups in south Hampton Roads, Virginia. This is a 3.4% increase over funding last year. Members of the Consortium are businesses and foundations that operate in the south Hampton Roads area of Virginia and make annual contributions to the Consortium. Every dollar of their contributions goes directly to arts and cultural organizations.

Since its inception, the Consortium has contributed more than $14.2 million to arts organizations that regularly perform or exhibit in the south Hampton Roads area. The Virginia Stage Company has received more than $1 million; The Chrysler Museum and the Virginia Symphony, more than $2 million; the Virginia Opera, more than $3 million.

The Consortium awarded 78 percent of its funds to the region’s largest arts organizations: The Chrysler Museum, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, the Virginia Arts Festival, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Company and the Virginia Symphony. 7% of the funds were awarded to organizations that work exclusively with children: Bay Youth Orchestras, The Hurrah Players, Theatre IV, Virginia Children’s Chorus and Young Audiences of Virginia. A new recipient in 2007 is the Hermitage Foundation Museum.

The Business Consortium for Arts Support is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by area businesses and foundations to broaden the base of support for local arts groups. Overhead for the Consortium is paid entirely by The Norfolk Foundation, which also provides a major grant to the Consortium’s art fund. Each year the Consortium gives funds for operating expenses to selected arts organizations that apply for funding. For many nonprofit groups, the Consortium is their single largest source of unearned income.