Pasadena-based MUSE/IQUE Awarded $1.4 Million Grant

Perenchio Foundation, a Pasadena-based private foundation that supports arts organizations in the LA region, has announced that it awarded its multi-year operating support grant of $1.4 million to MUSE/IQUE.

MUSE/IQUE is a nonprofit based in Pasadena dedicated to making “radically engaging live music experiences” accessible for everyone.

The Perenchio Foundation was established by A. Jerrold “Jerry” Perenchio, who was chairman and CEO of the Spanish-language broadcast network Univision. As part of its mission, the Perenchio Foundaton supports arts organizations in creating impactful experiences for current and future generations, and in connecting people to the arts, especially for communities that have been historically underfunded and underserved.

The grant to MUSE/IQUE will provide operating support over a three-year period, a statement by the Foundation said.

“These grants are LA-based and for LA,” Stephania Ramirez, Perenchio Foundation Executive Director, said. “We know that our local arts organizations enrich our lives, drive our economy, create new opportunities and deepen cultural empathy for our communities. We are honored to partner with these vital organizations to help them build their strength and sustainability for the long term. These organizations are at the very heart of LA’s vibrant creative scene.”

As a member-supported, nonprofit performing arts organization, MUSE/IQUE creates curated live music events and outreach programs aimed at inspiring the creative spirit, engaging the community imagination, and fostering new generations of music lovers.

By reimagining the traditional format of the live classical orchestral experience, Artistic Director Rachael Worby blends musical performances with researched curation. MUSE/IQUE events feature an eclectic mix of artists and artistic disciplines in unconventional locations – spaces “where art typically does not happen.” Worby started MUSE/IQUE in 2011 with a mission to “build empathy and expand imaginations” through transformative live events and strong partnerships with fellow nonprofit organizations in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area.

“We are pleased to be among the arts organizations in Los Angeles receiving grants from the Perenchio Foundation,” Worby said of the grant. “This grant serves as a grand affirmation of the spirit of adventure and sense of purpose shared by our artists, audiences, and support teams alike. Together, we strive to achieve incisive musical narratives illuminated by transcendent performances that can change lives.”

The Perenchio Foundation said the grants are intended to be flexible and to support organizational leaders in their efforts to strengthen capacity – from helping to cover day-to-day expenses, to investing in organizational learning, to hiring more staff.

Organizations that are 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organizations and located in and serving Los Angeles County with annual operating budgets of $15 million or less are eligible for the grants.

Grantees are selected through a multi-dimensional, equity-centered process that involves community input from a review panel whose members are multidisciplinary arts practitioners actively working across the region; a review of the applicants’ organizational financial health, steady leadership, and solid governance practices; site visits, and alignment with Foundation values and mission. 

To learn more about MUSE/IQUE, visit www.muse-ique.com.