Supporting the Arts
As patrons of The Arts, both the Bishops and Mary Parker were responsible for not only supporting institutions with financial gifts, but also with personal support. The original Manatee Players Theatre was strongly supported by the Bishops, not only for construction of the physical building, but also for assistance with the production of the events that took place there, with Lillian serving many years as the chair of the Properties Committee. They contributed to the establishment of the Manatee Art Center, and played a major role in the development of the original and subsequent South Florida Museum, now known as the Bishop Museum. Mary donated anonymously to provide the resident manatee there, Snooty, with a larger aquarium in which to live, as well as for substantial funding for his care and to increase the museum’s endowment. Project requests related to any aspect of The Arts should be submitted in this category.
If you are planning to apply for $10,000 or more please use the link below to complete the Eligibility Quiz.
If you are planning to apply for $10,000 or less, the link will redirect you to the Manatee Community Foundation’s site which is handling all Bishop Parker Foundation requests for less than $10,000.
If you are unsure if your request fits in this category, please contact us with your concerns or questions.