Access: Encouraging mid-sized and major cultural institutions to increase the participation of people of color in their audiences, boards, and staff

Community-based arts: Increasing the availability of high-quality cultural programs in specific low-income, diverse communities, and strengthening the infrastructure and leadership of culturally specific and community-based arts organizations

Creativity: Supporting the artistic development and the commissioning of new works by artists of color. This goal is addressed in part through the Joyce Awards, an annual competition open to major and mid-size cultural organizations in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Joyce Awards support the commissioning and production of new works in dance, music, theater, and visual arts by artists of color. The hope is that these partnerships will produce important new works of art, strengthen our cultural institutions, and draw people of all backgrounds to experience the deep rewards of participating in the arts. Proposed projects should include substantive community engagement efforts. Collaborations between organizations across the target cities and joint programming are encouraged.