18 South Florida ladies and one lone, brave man who shared a passion for and devotion to the arts met over their weekly

lunch to discuss how they could make a difference. South Florida was rapidly emerging as a powerful cultural force,

attracting national attention and incubating talent on all levels in all areas, from dance to music to theatre to visual arts

and more. The group understood that it would take dollars to help artists, students and organizations continue to hone

their craft, which in turn would keep South Florida from ever again being the cultural wasteland it once was.

 
To date, CIA has awarded nearly $700,000 in grants. Our goal is to reach
$1 million by 2013.
To reach this goal, we need your help.

Please join us! Membership is

our primary source of income, so CIA makes

membership affordable and pleasurable.

No matter what you are able to do, we want

your support. We have also created multiple

donor opportunities so there is something

for everyone. And of course, all donations

to CIA are tax deductible.

 
CIA was born from this passion.
The organization’s name conveys exactly what our members are — CITIZENS INTERESTED IN ARTS. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, CIA is a 100% volunteer army of compassionate, creatively oriented individuals who tirelessly donate their time and raise money for one reason and one reason only — to fund The Grants Program. 		The Grants Program is the heart and soul of the CIA, with 100% of donations going to writing grants. In 1998, the first grants were awarded to two young aspiring opera singers from The New World School of the Arts to attend the Aspen Summer Music Program. They had been awarded scholarships for all the classes but did not have the funds to get there or pay for housing or food. CIA grants subsidized their needs.