Unity, Community and Inclusion: Battery Powered Transforms the Arts
From painting on cave walls to sketching in virtual reality headsets, the arts have always been a core part of what makes us human. As one member explained on Thursday’s Allocation Night, “the arts enrich and enliven our individual experience of the world.”
Battery Powered packed The Penthouse to celebrate Bay Area arts through an evening of passion, interactive art, and dancing. Members took to the stage to champion their favorite organizations and select who would be receiving the final awards. “The arts are an entry point for kids to find themselves,” a member said, “and through the arts they find the voice to express themselves and advocate for their community.”
During the voting, one member stepped up to fund half of Creative Growth’s project request, which sparked a landslide of support and made them the evening’s first Awardee! Cheers could be heard down the hall as several members made last-minute contributions. Illuminate, whose previous Bay Bridge lighting project shimmered through the window, was next to receive a full Battery Powered Award. The crowd rejoiced as the final results came in with a total of 6 organizations receiving funding. All told, Battery Powered raised $1.3 million for the arts, our biggest gift to the Bay Area yet!
Ready to see all the winners?
Battery Powered Awardees
Organizations receiving 100% of their funding request
Creative Growth - $200K over 2 years
Project: Artists of Our Era: Advancing Achievement
CGAC, a pioneer in the field of art and disability, proposes creating “graduate level” art initiatives, using new technologies and collaborations to further advance its 154 artists with disabilities.
ILLUMINATE - $200K over 1 year
Project: LIGHTRAIL SEED FUND
Lightrail uses light and movement to create a common thread of connection among the diverse communities that live along and traverse a 2-mile stretch of Market Street, from One Market to Van Ness.
Other Winners
Organizations receiving partial funding of their request
Alonzo King LINES Ballet - $163K
Project: At the Intersection of Ballet, Language and Sound
Engaging new audiences through the creation of three ballets in collaboration with endangered language documentarian Bob Holman, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and SF’s renowned Kronos Quartet.
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco - $259K
Project: BGCSF Citywide Creative Arts Program
The CCAP connects youth, families and communities in a powerful way by enabling youth artists to find their voice and share it through multiple disciplines with the diverse community in San Francisco.
The Imagine Bus Project - $337K
Project: ARTS ON THE OUTS Reentry Program for Incarcerated Youth
Harnessing the power of creativity to transform the lives of justice-involved youth through arts-education, individualized case management, employment, and a deep belief in their ability to succeed.
Ubuntu Theater Project - $148K
Project: Ubuntu Theater’s 2017 & 2018 Seasons and Training Program
Activating the potential of Oakland’s only year-round professional theater company and emerging marquee theater, while bridging the opportunity gap by providing training to local artists.
Throughout the evening, there was a sense of community and shared purpose. From members advocating for their favorite organizations to champions who pushed finalists over the top with their amazing generosity, Allocation Night showed us what we all knew: Battery Powered is an incredible community of changemakers. “This is what Battery Powered is all about,” said a member. “Taking a small organization to the next level so it can grow.”
Battery Powered is The Battery’s giving program. To learn more or get involved, visit thebatterysf.com/giving or contact [email protected]
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About the Award
Battery Powered Awardees receive more than money. In addition to a fully funded project, they get special recognition in The Battery space and will be featured as winners on the Battery Powered online platform. Along with publicity opportunities and the endorsement of the Battery Powered membership, this award signals the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the organizations, who will be invited back to the club to share their progress and meet with members who might want to go further with their support. The membership is taking a “once an awardee, always an awardee” approach. That means the community will be hearing more from these wonderful organizations in the future!