In partnership with the David and Lura Lovell Foundation and Vitalyst Health Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona is pleased to announce that a total of $117,000 was recently awarded to advance the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) work of Southern Arizona nonprofits, including The Drawing Studio. The intent of this grantmaking is to help local nonprofit organizations move forward in their IDEA journey.

Emiel Martin Brott, Executive Director of The Drawing Studio, shared, “We are tremendously grateful for generous IDEA funding from the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in partnership with the David and Lura Lovell Foundation and the Vitalyst Health Foundation. This funding will help us deepen and expand the Be READI Equity Arts program, which includes among other things – free and culturally relevant courses taught by artists from underrepresented backgrounds (BIPOC, veteran, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities, etc); as well as free bilingual and Spanish-only courses.“

Brott further detailed, “We deeply believe that since art is about reflecting back what we see, feel, and know – transformational community art experiences can help us all see, feel and know one another better. The ultimate outcome of the funding will be to help The Drawing Studio expand the breadth, content, and most importantly access of diverse arts education throughout the community.”