Finalists For The "Knight Arts Challenge" Announced

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A South Florida-wide contest that funds artistic ideas by bringing the community together has named its top finalists.

The "Knight Arts Challenge" has narrowed down the entries, from ideas like expanding jazz in the gardens to putting professional musicians in after school music programs.

CBS4's Walter Makaula broke down the rules and introduced a top contender.

You may have heard the term "starving artist." Well, that phrase extends to art projects that are searching for funding.

So when the symphony orchestral trio called "The Alt Default" found out that the Knights Arts Challenge would contribute up to $20,000 for some of the best artistic ideas they jumped at the opportunity.

CLICK HERE To Watch Walter Makaula's Report 

"This year we've had over a thousand submissions," said Nicole Chipi who is with the Knight Foundation.

That pool was narrowed down to a couple hundred, and again to just 73 finalists.

Chipi said this is not a winner take all competition.

Many entries can win funding for their project, but "if they're selected as winners, they'll be required to raise a one-to-one match."

That means if they're awarded $10,000 they'll need to raise another $10,000 on their own to fund their idea. And it can be an idea from any artistic discipline including: music, dance, and all forms of visual arts – even graffiti.

In The Alt Default's case, music writing workshops for kids – an after school program at a public middle school.

"Groups of three students to come together the way that we do as a band or a trio and write an original song," said Hannah Nicholas of The Alt Default.

Nathaniel Nicholas added, "I find such joy in writing and we all find such joy in arranging such things, it sort of just makes sense to middle schoolers especially, and give them an outlet."

Think you have a worthwhile idea?

"The contest is open to everyone. So, you can be an individual artist, an organization or for profit business, and all we ask is that you submit a 150 word idea to our website," said Chipi.

For more information on the Knight Arts Challenge visit http://www.knightfoundation.org/. And if you're interested in what The Alt Default team is working on, you can visit their Facebook page.