Galvan Initiatives

09/30/2024

We can't wait to see the inspirational artwork of our Radical Unity grant recipients in Arizona. Peniel Macias will invite the Tucson community to paint a tile mosaic. Sheeba Mays will debut "The Positivity Keychain," an interactive exhibit and digital collective audiobook. Dylan Jung will create a mobile community mural that moves throughout Jerome, and Priscilla Rodriguez will host the Nogaleria Art Walk. Learn more about their projects and Radical Unity here.

Radical Unity A creative exploration toward Common Humanity. Radical Unity supports creative expressions that inspire our American humanity to unite as citizens and ignite civic engagement. Applications have closed for 2024. Selected Creatives are listed below. Project Director: Joan BriggsContact:....

09/12/2024

We are delighted by the diversity of perspectives and artistic media among our Radical Unity grant recipients in Georgia. Autumn Gary in Savannah will cast hands from recycled aluminum, representing the experiences, abilities, and modalities of the community. Emida Roller will create a unification mural in Washington. Shannon Willow will assemble a sculpture of natural materials to help the Clarkson community reflect on its relationships to nature and each other. And Ania Bartelmus and the Latin American Association will present comprehensive cultural workshops. Read more about their plans below.

Radical Unity A creative exploration toward Common Humanity. Radical Unity supports creative expressions that inspire our American humanity to unite as citizens and ignite civic engagement. Applications have closed for 2024. Selected Creatives are listed below. Project Director: Joan BriggsContact:....

08/22/2024

The results are in! After careful consideration, we have selected our inaugural Radical Unity grant recipients in Arizona and Georgia. Their creative projects strive to unite our nation and remind their communities of the common purpose embedded in the American experiment. In the coming weeks, we will highlight each of the projects, which range from public murals and mosaics to cultural workshops. You can read all about our wonderful grantees at the link below.

Radical Unity A creative exploration toward Common Humanity. Radical Unity supports creative expressions that inspire our American humanity to unite as citizens and ignite civic engagement. Applications have closed for 2024. Selected Creatives are listed below. Project Director: Joan BriggsContact:....

08/06/2024

Why does an organization that promotes affordable housing also support so many arts and cultural programs? Because, to us, home is more than a physical structure. Every home is also part of a social structure—a community. That’s why we are working with partners in Cuyler-Brownville to build and preserve nearly 100 homes while also supporting artistic expression and cultural institutions, too. Learn more about our commitment to strengthening communities at Galvan.org.

07/16/2024

Anita Smith-Dixon has seen how homeownership can empower families and deepen the roots of communities. “When you have secure housing you can focus on other things in life like your education. It stabilizes families,” she says. Anita serves as the executive director of Savannah’s Community Housing Services Agency (CHSA). We are proud to support CHSA’s first time homeownership program—one of many initiatives we are backing to ensure that people in Savannah have high-quality, stable, and affordable places to live. Read more at Galvan.org.

06/20/2024

In recent history, attempts at civil discourse that acknowledge differing views have often collapsed. Here on social media, we see it every day. Political tensions have been inflamed by partisans who use false narratives, conspiracy theories, and misinformation to deliberately transform fair-minded conversations into outright brawls. Our new project, Radical Unity, envisions a way forward: a compelling, powerful narrative that all Americans can own. And we believe the arts can lead us there. Beginning with a pilot year in Arizona and Georgia, we will fund artistic expression with the aim of bridging divides in communities that need it most. Local artists can learn more and find grant applications at Galvan.org.

05/14/2024

The Kiah House is now officially part of the Georgia Register of Historic Places! This designation recognizes the home’s importance to the past and present of Savannah, and it is our honor to care for its legacy.

May 14, 2024 - Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) – a leading nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to saving the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future –

02/15/2024

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new stage in our relationship with Camphill Hudson. We recently celebrated the grand opening of 501 Union, an 11-unit building shared among adults with developmental disabilities and Camphill staff members. "This unique extended-family type housing ensures tenants access to the Hudson community, visibility, and the ability to age in place,” says Executive Director Onat Sanchez-Schwartz. “This kind of housing enables people with special needs to expand their choices.” We are proud to provide inclusive, affordable housing for our friends at Camphill.

Galvan and Camphill Hudson work together to find housing for people with disabilities where they will be an integrated part of their neighborhood and community. We recently celebrated the grand opening of 501 Union St, an 11-unit building shared among adults with developmental disabilities and Camph...

01/15/2024

We are delighted to join the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) to officially launch The Democracy Cycle. Our call for proposals is now open! Over the next five years, PAC NYC and Galvan will commission 25 works of theater, dance, music, chamber opera, and more that will enrich and expand discussion of and participation in democracy. Starting today, artists can submit their proposals to the first of three annual open calls. Selected artists will receive a $30,000 commission along with an additional $30,000 budget for development. Check out the story in Playbill for more about The Democracy Cycle and information on how artists can get involved!

The multi-year commitment will commission and develop 25 works across theatre, opera, dance, and music.

12/08/2023

In November, we kicked off construction of 63 new apartments at 76 N. 7th Street in Hudson. The groundbreaking represented a major step forward in our years-long effort to help solve Hudson's housing crisis. We are thrilled that 80% of those new units will be workforce housing, a step toward ensuring that people who work in Hudson will be able to afford to live here too. The building will include four new commercial spaces, with priority going to minority- and women-owned businesses. Read more about our work in Hudson here:

Galvan’s affordable housing initiative helps to solve this problem. Right now, we are building 138 homes that will be affordable for very-low-income to moderate-income families. This initiative includes two new buildings in the Depot District, a walkable, historic neighborhood at the intersection ...

10/26/2023

Thanks to a $500,000 contribution from the City of Savannah, realization of the Kiah House is closer than ever. Virginia Kiah was inspired to turn her beautiful home into a "museum for the masses" that would benefit her community. When restoration of the Kiah House is complete, it will host workshops and talks so that you can find your inspiration there, too. We aim to make Kiah a teaching and learning space so that a new generation can see everything as art, and art in everything.

The city of Savannah will contribute $500,000 to renovate a house that once hosted an African American art museum.

10/06/2023

Phil the Park is back! Join the Savannah Philharmonic tomorrow for an evening of music featuring Alysha Umphress and the SCAD Bee Sharps. This year's Picnic Competition theme is "Around the World," a celebration of the global rhythms of Savannah.

Alysha Umphress (Mezzo Soprano) is a New York City based artist who is thrilled to be returning to Savannah after being honored with the gold medal at the 2023 American Traditions vocal competition. Ms. Umphress made a splash on Broadway starring as “Hildy” the man hungry cab driver in the criti...