Arts Alive supports, grows, and connects a sustainable arts landscape through increasing access to the arts and by providing artists and organizations the education, resources, assistance, and community support necessary for success.
Through the Mini Grants program, Arts Alive seeks to boost emerging artists, especially those that identify as experiencing financial hardship, in their professional and creative endeavors. Selected projects receive funding to either expand the artist’s or business’ professional abilities or increase the amount of people they reach with arts experiences.
In October 2023, Arts Alive awarded 10 grants of $100 to $250 to local artists. Here are some updates from a few of our 2023 grantees on their projects:
mini grant to record music videos
Photo courtesy of Tara Novak (pictured)
"In October 2023, I went into a studio in Derry NH (the incredible StudioLab!) with my Contemporary Irish Folk Band, Ishna. We brought in an audience of friends and family (bribing them with food and drinks!) and recorded 6 videos of songs. In December 2023, I went back into a studio, this time in Boston at the Record Company with my solo songwriting project. There we recorded 4 videos of songs.
With these materials, my husband and I were able to attend APAP (the world’s largest performing arts conference) in January 2024. There we met many booking agents and concert promoters. We are working now to follow up with all of these contacts to book shows for our acts. We are slowly uploading all of the videos to our websites and social media, using them not only as booking tools but also to help build our following online. The cost and time to produce these materials can be very prohibitive. The support from Arts Alive makes a difference, as does the support from everyone in our community!" - violinist/vocalist/composer Tara Novak
mini grant to fund an embroidery workshop
Photo courtesy of The Blank Space Collection
"I would like to teach a mixed media embroidery 'intensive,’ A couple hour workshop where we all learn basic embroidery stitches, experiment with paint and beadwork and then from there each participant would design their own pattern and create a mixed media embroidery piece of their own... I would need to secure a venue, purchase supplies and advertise the workshop." - Hallie Driscoll of The Blank Space Collection
The program is in the works for summer 2024!
mini grant towards a documentary
Stills from documentary in progress. Courtesy of Larry Benaquist.
“Arts Alive kindly gave us a grant to pay Peter Kelleher, a recent graduate of the Film Studies program at Keene State College, to edit [the five minute, eight second-long trailer for the documentary 'Esther Topaz: Sculpting a Life']. The music was contributed by Virginia Eskin, noted pianist. We are attempting to get post-production completion funds for this documentary on the life of a woman who was born in 1942 in a concentration camp in southern France, of Jewish parents, which camp became a feeder camp to send Jews to their deaths in Auschwitz in 1942 and 1943. She and her mother survived the camp, and this is the story of how she dealt with the inherited trauma of her parents' experiences (and her own), and how she came to become one of Canada's pre-eminent artists. Thanks to Arts Alive for this grant; it gave a young filmmaker an excellent experience and helped us out simultaneously!" - Keene State College Film Studies Emeritus Professor Larry Benaquist
Courtesy of James Rinker
mini grant for a photojournalist’s equipment
"As the legislative session in New Hampshire winds down, disinformation about gender-affirming health care continues to spread. I have spent the past several months capturing the different aspects of my medical transition through self-portraiture and detail photos, and am in the process of finishing the photo essay to pitch to local, regional and national publications. I hope that rural trans and queer youth who may not have this representation in their own lives can connect with my experiences of trans joy during this difficult time." The end goal is to display this work in local gallery spaces in the near future to expand access to accurate and reliable information about gender identity and gender-affirming health care.” - Keene Sentinel Reporter James Rinker
mini grant to explore a new skateboard design
3D printed skate board mold. Photo courtesy of Rare Minded Productions.
"I was able to put the minigrant funds towards the purchase of an Ender S1 Plus 3D printer, in order to print the RMP original designed modular skateboard mold (V1) as planned. This allows us to produce new sections for the top/bottom molds that are used to press maple veneer into high quality skateboard decks, both street (and now) longboards. Although the refined board designs for the new shape of longboard are still under development, RMP will be doing some raffles towards the end of the year at some craft/art shows featuring the new pressings. More custom geometry combinations for skateboard decks to come!" - Michael Anfuso of Rare Minded Productions
mini grant for street performing practice
Photo courtesy of Nate Olson (pictured)
"Funding from the mini-grant allowed me, as a late-blooming but optimistic adult circus artist and semi-professional juggler, to commute to spots around downtown Keene and try my hand at sidewalk juggling. Street performing is not something that comes easily to me, as my skills and comfort level are still developing, so having a low-pressure opportunity to practice in public was very helpful. I also learned that having a partner makes performance much easier and more fun for me than going solo, and I will be looking to get back out there this spring with friends!" - Nate Olson
mini grant for a Poetry slam series
Photo courtesy of Christopher Clauss (pictured)
“My goals personally are to make connections locally with other poets and to build a poetry community, preferably one that is multigenerational. I hope every feature will bring something new and unexpected, poetry that will challenge poets’ perceptions of what poetry can be and what a powerful poem can do.” - science teacher, poet, and organizer Christopher Clauss
The series is in the works for summer 2024 in Downtown Keene.
Arts Alive raises money for mini grants online through NH Gives. Our 2024 goal is $2500. Check out our NH Gives page for more information!
