Mayor LaFrance announces 2025 Mayor's Arts Grant awardees

Each year, the mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage awards grants to community-based presenters, producers, and nonprofit arts organizations who provide visual art, theater, dance, music, poetry and more to the Anchorage community. This long-standing grant program supports and recognizes groups that enrich the Municipality of Anchorage by beautifying public space, preserving and honoring cultural heritage, fostering community dialogue, and uplifting local artists.

This year, $75,000 was available for award to nonprofit organizations working in arts and culture. Out of 30 organizations that applied, 27 were selected to receive a range of funding for projects that engage the community, create public value, and expand access to the arts. The Arts Advisory Commission reviewed the applications and made a first round of recommendations to the Mayor.

Projects include the Alaska Junior Theater, which brings diverse performances and cultural stories to local schools and the Atwood Concert Hall; the Anchorage International Film Festival, which champions independent filmmaking, new media, and Indigenous and underrepresented voices; Asian Alaskan Cultural Center's Asian Culture Night, which promotes understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage; Heart, Inc., which puts on dance competition for Hmong children to celebrate their cultural heritage and build community; Girdwood Art Institute's Summer Fine Arts Camp for youth; and many more.

"Investing in arts and culture supports a thriving Anchorage community - a place where people want to live, work and play," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "These grants directly support projects that will have a meaningful impact and uplift a wide range of voices across the community. I'm excited to see the creativity, culture and community spirit they will bring to life."

Full list of the 2025 Mayor's Arts Grant recipients:

• Alaska Children's Museum
• Anchorage Chamber Music Festival
• Alaska Native Arts Foundation
• Alaska Dance Theatre
• Alaska Theatre of Youth
• Anchorage Concert Chorus
• Cyrano's Theatre Company
• Perseverance Theatre, Inc.
• United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance (UTOPIA) Alaska
• Alaska Jazz Workshop
• Anchorage Community Theatre
• Out North Contemporary Art
• TBA Theatre
• Anchorage Folk Festival, Inc
• Alaska Chinese Association
• Northern Culture Exchange (Spenard Jazz Fest)
• The Anchorage Alaska Chapter of The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc., d/b/a The Midnight Sons
• Alaska Youth Orchestras
• Pulse Dance Company
• Alaska Native Heritage Center
• Anchorage Concert Association
• Girdwood Art Institute
• Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
• HEART, INC
• Asian Alaskan Cultural Center
• Anchorage International Film Festival
• Alaska Junior Theater

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Contact: Emily Goodykoontz emily.goodykoontz@anchorageak.gov 1 (907) 205-6683 ​

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