Regional Arts Commission

About

The Regional Arts Commission is the area's largest annual funder of the arts, dedicated to cultivating, fostering and promoting the arts in the St. Louis region.

Story

The Regional Arts Commission leads, strengthens and gives voice to a creative community where every citizen can be proud to live, work and play in a world-class region. In short, we are proud of our St. Louis cultural identity and want to do whatever we can to grow, sustain and promote that identity in the future. We are at the forefront of helping transform St. Louis into a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community through the arts – and want everyone to know just how special the creative community is within the region.

Our organization was founded in 1985 to promote, encourage and foster the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis City and County, and to contribute to the economic development of the area through a strong presence of the arts.

RAC is a leader in providing innovation, access and creative solutions to economic and community development. We advocate respect, inclusion and appreciation of the diverse cultures of all individuals, and are always striving to achieve creative methods of community growth.

Mission

The mission of the Regional Arts Commission is to create an environment that nurtures artists, as well as arts and cultural organizations, by:

Providing funds to promote, encourage and foster the arts and cultural institutions and activities within its boundaries
Promoting and preserving cultural diversity
Helping artists and arts and cultural organizations improve quality
Creating equal access to cultural opportunities
Insuring consideration of aesthetic issues in local decision making
Continuing to engage in cultural planning