Arts Alive! announces the seven recipients of its first ever mini-grants program.
Announced at the end of August, the mini-grants program was Arts Alive!’s attempt to connect with and learn more about the individual artists across the Monadnock region. “This is our creative way to do some research,” says Alison Wilder, Arts Alive! Board member. “We’re launching this in order to collect information about artists, performers, and other creatives whose businesses are emerging and who need a boost. That is one of the key groups we serve with our workshops and fiscal sponsorship programs. We want to better understand where they’re at. This just made sense, instead of paying a consultant to do research or investing in advertising an online survey, we’re going to put money into the hands of creatives in our community.”
The result of the application process, which ran from September through October, was almost 30 project proposals of community arts initiatives, creative independent projects, and ideas to invest in creative businesses.
“It is an honor to see so many folks out there trying new things!” said Arts Alive board member and director of Friends of Public Art, Georgia Cassimatis
Dedicated funds were raised for this project through community partnerships with Robert Seaman’s Daily Doodles project, MC2 Charter School’s Let It Slide August event, Machina Arts’ Potsticker Donation Program during Radically Rural, and from a donation from 17ROX Artist Studios. Almost $1,500.00 was raised to support this mini-grants program.
In late November, a jury met to determine which of the almost 30 projects that applied would receive funding.
Jurors included musician and composer, Alison Wilder; artists and arts educators, Craig Stockwell and April Claggett; dancer, Robin Cherof; director of Friends of Public Art, Georgia Cassimatis; artist, musician, and community activist, Jim Murphy; and Human Engagement Director at Macdowell, Jenni Wu.
“The applicants exhibited a wonderful range of interests, skills, and community involvement!” said Stockwell.
The following projects were selected to receive a modest amount of funding to support projects and programs that increase access to the arts across the Monadnock region.
Colin Leech of Brattleboro will purchase a HEPA air filtration system and materials for a kick-off workshop at Yes Studio, an inclusive art studio where Folx find a supportive, safe environment to tune their artistic voice. Workshops at Yes Studio will bridge the space between health & wellness and creative exploration.
Zachary Stephens of Hinsdale will purchase exhibition materials, supplies, and equipment and pay for exhibition-ready prints of Are We There Yet?, a photographic series that explores modern fatherhood. This work directly addresses concerns with navigating the stereotypes of fatherhood and with raising kids in rural American society today. The work will be exhibited across New England, including in the Monadnock region.
Elizabeth Myer of Keene will create and film a short documentary on Jennie B. Powers, a humane society agent in Keene, NH, from 1903-1936. Jennie is the subject of one of the 16 Magical History Tour public murals in downtown Keene that Arts Alive! helped create in 2019. This short documentary will be an educational tool for all ages and will enhance the presence of the Jennie B. Powers mural.
Marcelle Pope of Hillsborough will purchase supplies for a cooperative ceramics program run in partnership with Farmsteads of New England, a working farm and residence in Hillsborough for developmentally disabled adults and Avenue A, a teen center in Antrim.
Kate Semro of Sharon will purchase an Akai midi keyboard and 3 month subscription to music composition classes offered on Sound Fly to enhance skills needed for an audio art project, Mother Mine Podcast, which will engage up to 75 individuals from around the world in storytelling and collaborative audio art creation.
Alicia Drakiotes of Keene will purchase materials and cover other expenses related to leading art classes at Keene Senior Center
Lee Dunholter of Peterborough will pay for photography and digital design services to convert hand drawn artwork into digital files. Files will be printed on durable panels installed as a permanent Mediation Mural in the Healing Arts Gallery at Monadnock Community Hospital.
“I knew the Monadnock region was a creative place, but even so, I was surprised at how many amazing projects I learned about while adjudicating,” said Wilder. “The number of worthwhile applications meant that choosing recipients was challenging, but what a joy to learn about so many new-to-me artists who are working in the region!”
In 2022, Arts Alive! hopes to continue this project, to learn more about the activities and ambitions of the creative community and to support those activities that increase access to the arts.
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Arts Alive! is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to support, grow, and connect a sustainable arts landscape in the Monadnock Region. We want the Monadnock region to have a flourishing cultural community that values arts and culture and provides support to facilitate success. The greater community will take pride in the arts, which are seen as integral to a thriving society and economy.