Alison Huff and Allan Cowen.
Photo-Fund for the Arts

 

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Allison Huff, Managing Director of Walden Theatre will receive the inaugural Allan Cowen Innovation Fund for Advancement of the Arts from The Fund for the Arts. The $5,000 to $10,000 grant, established in 2013 to honor Cowen for his long-time leadership, innovation and advancement of the Arts in the Kentuckiana region provides funding for Arts administrators and artists to pursue professional development opportunities which will allow them to explore innovative ideas, further develop their skills, and advance the Arts community long term.

Huff has been with Walden Theatre for seven years, serving in her current role for the last five. With the grant, Huff will attend the Harvard Business School Executive Education: Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Leadership Program this summer.

According to Huff, “HBS can provide valuable education to help me hone skills and learn international best practices in nonprofit management, building on my Master’s education at U of L.”  While there, Huff will also visit Project Zero – Harvard Graduate School of Education’s arts education research initiative allowing her to learn best practices to apply to evaluation efforts in Louisville.

“There were many excellent applicants this year.” said Cowen.  “Allison’s commitment to Louisville and her vision for the Arts were exemplary.  We are excited to embark on this journey with her and look forward to the knowledge and leadership she will bring back to our community.”

The Klein family provided significant seed funding for this concept. Persons interested in supporting the Allan Cowen Innovation Fund can do so by making a restricted gift to the Fund for the Arts.

Fund for the Arts is the oldest united Arts fund in the country and has generated more than $188 million since its establishment in 1949.  In 2013, the Fund for the Arts awarded 516 grants to 162 schools and community organizations throughout the region to provide financing for Arts experiences and administrative support. The Fund for the Arts also hosts power2give.org, an online crowd-funding platform for any 501(c)3 organization in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to post Arts and culture projects and the nationally recognized NeXt! leadership development program for young professionals. For more information visit www.fundforthearts.com