Imperial Arts Foundation

The Imperial Arts Foundation (IAF), founded in 2811 by Marana River, is a nonprofit charitable organization headquartered on Green (Ellis III). The foundations charter is to provide resources and funding to artists throughout the United Empire of Earth. Every year the organization provides grants and fellowships to artists throughout a large range of forms including; music, sculpture, dance, performance, digital media, and writing.

History
After graduating from Aydo Polytechnic, Rivers was able to live a comfortable life as a young artists thanks in large part to her status as an heiress. This, however, was not the case for many of Rivers colleagues and friend. Recognizing this discrepancy, Rivers sought to find a way to help struggling artists and provide them with the funds they needed so they wouldn't have to worry about basic necessities like food, and shelter.

After gathering the support of her parents, Rivers managed to secure enough funding to host a gala that would launch this from a pet project to a fully fledged charitable foundation, the Green Foundation for the Arts. The gala raised roughly 3 million UEC, donated in large part from local businesses, government officials, and celebrities. After six years of galas and fundraising events, the Green Foundation for the Arts had raised over 400 million UEC, which it used to establish an endowment.

For the next eleven years the foundation would only grant awards to new artists on Green. However in 2829 it would open a second branch on Aremis (Vega II) and change its name from the Green Foundation for the Arts to the Imperial Arts Foundation, a move to reflect its new charter to support artists throughout the UEE.

Events
The largest events for the foundation every year are the Green Gala and the Folk Arts and Music Fair.

Green Gala
The Green Gala is held annually at the Green Museum of Art, and is an invite-only red-carpet fundraising event that gathers the attention of celebrities and philanthropists alike. Every year is marked by a theme which sets the dress code for the attendees. The event is also used as a forum to recognize and honor that years grant recipients.

Folk Arts and Music Fair
The Folk Arts and Music Fair is an annual event that is held on a different planet on a rotating basis. The event is used to highlight both traditional and non-traditional forms of art that is unique to that planet. The first ever Folk Arts and Music Fair was held on Saisei (Centauri III) in 2847 and recognized the traditional Saiei instrument craft.

River's Promise Award
The River's Promise Award is given to fledgling artists who demonstrate outstanding potential. The award comes with a monetary prize.

Eminence Award
The Eminence Award is given to established artists who have received the River's Promise Award earlier in their career and have gone on to achieve prominence in their field.

Patron of the Arts Award
The Patron of the Arts Award recognizes those who have donated to the Imperial Arts Foundation, without whom the charity would be unable to continue its mission.