In 2017, The Trust and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation co-commissioned a report from Yancey Consulting to understand the health and viability of African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) arts groups in New York City. Using data on groups’ finances, operations, and programmatic outputs, the study demonstrated an urgent need to address ALAANA arts groups’ thrivability. Soon after, in 2018, the Mosaic Network and Fund (the Fund) was established to direct more resources to arts groups that are led by, created for, and accountable to ALAANA people. With values rooted in racial equity (and acknowledgement of the need to also address other forms of oppression), the Fund aims to:

• Create a learning community of arts funders and practitioners who are dedicated to helping ALAANA arts organizations thrive;
• Provide flexible and strategic support that strengthens the organizational capacity of ALAANA arts organizations in New York City;
• Advocate for more equitable policies and practices for ALAANA cultural workers;
• Shift the narrative around ALAANA arts groups and racial equity in the arts; and
• Increase overall philanthropic support for City-based ALAANA arts groups by facilitating funder commitments to new grantees.

The Mosaic Network hosts learning exchanges to connect funders with ALAANA arts practitioners and facilitate mutual learning and community building. If you are a New York City-based ALAANA arts organization and would like to be included in these exchanges, or for all other inquiries, please email mosaic@nyct-cfi.org(opens in a new tab).