Arts Alive awards 18 mini grants to local artists

A panel of peers in the arts community selected 18 local artists and creative businesses to receive an Arts Alive mini grant. This year, 43 total applicants sent artist bios and descriptions of their project for review. Selected projects received funding to either expand the artist’s or business’s professional abilities or increase the amount of people they reach with arts experiences.

We’re really delighted that the mini grants program can open the doors for folks to pursue their dreams and reach their community. – Jennifer Paone, Board Co-Chair

The 2024 mini grant awardees are:

Hannah Banana

Visual artist Hannah Banana Clark, who intends to use the grant to purchase supplies and promotional materials for an old-train-car-turned-new-community-maker-space called “The Banana Box” in Swanzey, NH.

Keene Senior Center Executive Director Kimberly Rumrill, who will use the grant to fund the purchase and installation of molding and hanging rods to hang paintings for a new art gallery at the Senior Center.

Local artist and educator Erin Sweeney who will use the grant to help pay for a sign and website for a new art studio in Hancock called Brick House Arts. Sweeney intends to host workshops, pop up art shows, events for all ages, and an Art Table project, among other community collaborations and projects.

Filmmaker and High Cairn Films-founder Chris Hardee, who will use the funds to support free screenings of a new history-focused documentary ‘Good-bye to a House’ to local audiences in the Monadnock region. These screenings involve time, travel expenses, and in some cases, equipment purchase or rental.

Waking Finnegan

Violinist and songwriter Corey Walden, who will use the mini grant to support an album recording by the local Celtic music project Waking Finnegan.

Former librarian Miranda Rosbach, who will use the grant to serve families with children aged 0-12 of Rindge by creating a Mini Maker Art Studio with art classes and interactive experiences and a children's bookshop in her backyard.

Pyrographer, fiber artist, and performer Brenna Morss-Fish, who will use the mini grant to purchase materials to craft unique and fun wood and fiber-based products to support her growing creative business.

Writer and writing coach Becky Karush, who will use the grant to fund a week at Welcome Hill Studios in Chesterfield, NH to provide uninterrupted writing time to work on the third draft of her WWII-themed historic fiction novel.

Artist and arts educator Sammy Burhoe, who will use the funds to purchase printmaking class materials including a new set of printmaking inks, 2 new rollers and about 25 sheets of fine art paper for students ages 14+ in a public after school program at The Center at Orchard Hill in Alstead, NH. 

Martha Behrens-Temple

Photographer and mixed media artist Martha Behrens-Temple, who will use the mini grant to gain access to the workshops, materials, and resources available with membership at the Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro.

Caroline Tremblay

Author, entrepreneur, and content creator Caroline Tremblay, who will use the grant to fund a solo writing retreat at a farm to provide inspiration and uninterrupted writing time to draft her first novel.

Artist and art teacher Melanie Fedorowicz, who will use the funds to support her growing art practice and creative business in a new studio.

Artist Alison Scott, who will use the funds to purchase frames for artwork to be exhibited in local galleries.

Singer-songwriter and audio engineer Cameron Paul, who will use the mini grant to purchase materials for the construction of a vocal isolation booth for his music studio.

DJ Owen Zoll, who will use the mini grant to purchase an external hard drive for his music.

Photo of ‘Emergent Pines’ and Alison Scott by Diana Place

Independent director, producer, filmmaker, and documentarian Heather Holloway, who will apply the mini grant to the cost of developing, mounting, and framing photography for a public exhibit of a film currently in production.

Interdisciplinary artist, educator, and art historian April Claggett, who will use the mini grant to purchase supplies for an interactive, video-based installation at the Jaffrey Civic Center.

Dance instructor, professional choreographer, and dancer Kristen Walden, who will use the funds to replace props and costumes for classes and performances. 

Arts Alive awarded grants of $200 to $250, depending on the needs of the project and alignment with the nonprofit’s mission of igniting creativity, sparking connections, and nurturing the artists and culture-bearers of the region so that they may spark others to dream, create, and engage.

Kristen Walden by Peter Paradise Photography

Through anonymously collected demographic information, Arts Alive determined that 28% of the mini grant applicants are living near or below the poverty line and over 49% make less than the region’s median income. Additionally, 36% of applicants are caretakers of another household or family member, like a child or an ailing relative.

We’ve begun collecting data to see who is accessing our programs to better understand where the need is. Mini grants are an easy way to say to artists - your ideas are valid, worthy, please keep going! With this bit of funding, we are able to connect artists with money to kickstart their dreams. I wish we had another few thousand to give away each year! - Arts Alive Executive Director Jessica Iris

By accepting the mini grant, awardees agree to use the funds for intended purposes by September 2025. Awardees will also document the impact of the funding on their project. To help raise the $2,000 for this program, Arts Alive conducted a NH Gives Day online fundraiser in June 2024. In October 2024, Arts Alive was able to increase the amount of mini grants available with a generous donation from the The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation.

This year, the mini grants panel consisted of local arts leaders, previous mini grant recipients, and Arts Alive board and staff members including 2023 mini grant recipients Sarita Drew of Everybody Burlesque, musician and composer Tara Novak, musician and sound artist Katie Semro, artist and arts educator Tristan Bridges, and Keene Sentinel journalist and photographer James Rinker. Additionally, Keene State College professor and 2024 Ewing Arts Award winner Christina Wright-Ivanova, Arts Alive board member James Duffy, and Arts Alive Programming Coordinator Nina Taylor-Dunn juried.

Arts Alive mini grant applications close September 22nd

Until September 22nd, applications for Arts Alive mini grants from $50-250 are open to artists and creative businesses of the Monadnock region. Grants will be selected by peers and awarded directly to artists, emerging artists, or creative businesses that seek to expand their professional abilities or increase how many people they can reach with arts experiences. Applications have been open online at monadnockartsalive.org/mini-grants since August 5th.

Arts Alive supports artists, performers, and makers of all kinds with programs including mini grants, workshops, business coaching, and field trips.

“We’re going to be really flexible with how this money can be used,” says Executive Director Jessica Gelter. “Supplies for a project, marketing your work, a short term studio rental, getting work framed, booking time in a recording studio or performance space, hiring a babysitter and ordering takeout for several nights so you can focus on a project, gas for your car to get to a series of gigs, attending a workshop—whatever it is that will help you move towards the next level.”

The application, available online at monadnockartsalive.org/mini-grants, is simple. Most questions require a short answer, with some requiring multiple choice or check box answers. Applicants will be asked to describe themselves and their project, including how the funding will be used, who will be impacted by the project and in what way, and how much progress has already been made. Recipients will be chosen by a panel of local leaders in the creative community based on how meaningful the project funding will be to the applicant and the positive impact on the greater arts community.

Artists, emerging artists, writers, performers, and creative business entrepreneurs are all encouraged to apply. Grant awards will be distributed via check and recipients will need to fill out a W9 form to receive their payment. By accepting the mini grant, recipients agree to use the funds for intended purposes by September 2025 and agree to document the impact of the funding on their project. A jury of local arts leaders will review the applications in early October, and Arts Alive will distribute grants to selected projects by the last week of October. 

Artist to Artist workshop photo by Jim Murphy

In 2023, Arts Alive awarded grants of $100 to $250 to 10 out of 33 total applicants. Through anonymously collected demographic information, Arts Alive determined that 39% of those applicants lived at or below the poverty line and over 57% made less than the region’s median income.

“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 field trips, 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.”

Field Trip to Healing Arts Gallery in Peterborough

Arts Alive’s mission is to ignite creativity and spark connection across the Monadnock region. By nurturing artists, culture-bearers, and creative instigators, the organization strives to bring access to the arts to every Monadnock region community member. The organization provides artists and organizations education, resources, assistance, and community support for success. Through the Mini Grants program, Arts Alive seeks to boost local artists, especially those that identify as experiencing financial hardship, in their professional and creative endeavors. 

“We’re really delighted that the mini grants program can open the doors for folks to pursue their dreams and reach their community,” says Board Co-Chair Jennifer Paone.

To help raise the funds for grants, Arts Alive conducted a NH Gives Day online fundraiser. The $2,000 raised will cover anywhere from 8 to 40 mini-grants between $50 and $250. In the past, Arts Alive has partnered with local businesses to build this fund and create opportunities for local artists to advance professionally. To partner with Arts Alive on this project, or to donate specifically to this fund, reach out to Executive Director, Jessica Gelter at jessica@monadnockartsalive.orgor visit monadnockartsalive.org/mini-grants.

Arts Alive raises funds for Mini Grants

From 5PM on June 11th to 5PM on June 12th, 2024, Arts Alive will be participating in The NH Center for Nonprofits online fundraiser NH Gives. Arts Alive, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, uses all funds raised to support emerging artists in the Monadnock region through a program called Mini Grants.

Arts Alive’s mission is to ignite creativity and spark connection across the Monadnock region. By nurturing artists, culture-bearers, and creative instigators, the organization strives to bring access to the arts to every Monadnock region community member. The organization provides artists and organizations education, resources, assistance, and community support 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. 

In 2023, Arts Alive raised $2000 during NH Gives to award grants of $100 to $250 to 10 projects that either expanded the artist’s or business’ professional abilities or increased the amount of people they could reach with arts experiences. There were 33 total applicants. Through anonymously collected demographic information, Arts Alive determined that 39% of those applicants lived at or below the poverty line and over 57% made less than the region’s median income.

This is an incredible program to resource creative instigators in our community. Through it, we are able to connect artists with funding to kickstart their dreams. - Arts Alive Executive Director Jessica Gelter

Recipients of Arts Alive’s 2023 mini grants include Christopher Clauss, a published poet and slam poetry event organizer who plans to start a monthly poetry night in downtown Keene; circus artist and juggler Nate Olson, who practiced street performing as a performance artist who started as an adult; violinist, vocalist, and composer Tara Novak, who recorded demos and music videos for two new projects; journalist James Rinker, who obtained a camera lens for a photo project documenting the medical and social aspects of transitioning one’s gender; graphic designer and skateboard builder Michael Anfuso, who purchased a 3D printer to produce a new modular skateboard mold; multi-disciplinary artist Hallie Driscoll, who will put the grant towards a mixed media embroidery workshop series for the community; and retired Film Studies professor Lawrence Benaquist, who hired a video editor to work on a promotional video for a documentary on Jewish sculptor and concentration camp survivor Esther Topaz.

Tara Novak’s band Ishna by Shaylyn Grace Photography

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! - 2023 Mini Grant Recipient Tara Novak

For the 2024 Mini Grants program, Arts Alive aims to raise $2500. More information on the program can be found at monadnockartsalive.org/mini-grants. More information on past projects and supporting Arts Alive during NH Gives can be found online at www.nhgives.org/organizations/arts-alive. Updates on Arts Alive’s and other local arts organizations’ participation in the 24-hour fundraiser will be posted to social media.

Arts Alive raises funds for Mini Grants through NH Gives: Updates on 2023 grant projects

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!