Cultural Affairs Office
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The Mayor Announces 2017 Individual Artist Grants
March 23, 2017 -- The Mayor announced today the award of Individual Artist Grants to 37 recipients, including four emerging artists. Awarded on an annual basis, Individual Artist Grants support the development and presentation of new artistic works across the community. Since 1985, this City grant program has awarded more than $4.5 million through more than 780 Individual Artist Grants.
“When you are moved by a play, inspired by a piece of music or surprised by a mural on the street, that is an artist influencing your everyday life,” said The Mayor. “Artists are a big part of what gives our city its soul and why it is such a great place to live and visit. I enthusiastically congratulate this year’s class of outstanding awardees.”
Artist Grant recipients are selected each year in one of two categories: emerging artists, who have pursued their profession for less than four years; and established artists, with more than five years of professional experience. Artists compete in a range of disciplines including visual and literary arts, music composition, choreography, film and multimedia. The proposed projects are evaluated through a competitive open application process by external peer-review panels. The grants are funded through a portion of Hotel Occupancy Tax that is dedicated to the arts as part of the City’s cultural priorities guided by The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
“We are proud to support these Houston artists,” said Philamena Baird, Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) Chairman of the Board. “Their work reminds us that this city is already filled with world-class talent and creative energy worthy of investment.”
HAA administers the program, on behalf of the City of Houston, with the goal of improving Houstonians’ quality of life and promoting cultural tourism.
The 2017 Individual Artist Grant recipients are:
- Neiman Catley – Film - $10,000
- Ashlei Edwards – Film - $10,000
- Daniel Levin – Film - $10,000
- William Moore + Sandy Ewen – Film - $10,000
- David Politzer – Film - $10,000
- Stephanie Saint Sanchez – Film - $10,000
- Stacey Summers – Film - $10,000
- Cressandra Thibodeaux – Film - $10,000
- Trent Wittenbach – Film - $10,000
- Claire Anderson – Literary Arts - $10,000
- Peter Turchi – Literary Arts - $10,000
- Laura Harrell - Multidisciplinary/Performance Art - $4,290
- Stephan Hillerbrand + Mary Magsamen - Multidisciplinary/Performance Art - $10,000
- Rathna Kumar – Multidisciplinary/Performance Art - $10,000
- Teresa Chapman – Choreography - $10,000
- Jacqui Sutton – Music Composition - $10,000
- Reginald Adams – Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Jessica Alvarenga - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $5,000
- Keliy Anderson - Staley - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Rebecca Braziel - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $5,000
- Joseph Cohen - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Dominic Clay - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Margaux Crump – Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Jamal Cyrus - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $9,500
- Nathaniel Donnett – Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Erik Hagen - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Clara Hoag - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Masumi Kataoka - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Jake Margolin + Nick Vaughan - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Tami Merrick + Nicola Parente - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Susannah Mira - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Syd Moen - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Laura Spector + Chadwick Gray- Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Sarah Sudhoff - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Patrick Turk - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Kelli Vance - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $10,000
- Sarah Welch - Visual Arts, Craft, Sculptural & Media Arts - $5,000
For more information on the Individual Artist Grant program, visit houstonartsalliance.com/grants/individuals.
For more information about the City’s cultural programs, go to www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs or follow The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook @HoustonMOCA.
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