The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis has reached a major milestone in a program supporting local artists.
In 2013, RAC began awarding $20,000 to Today, the group announced its fifth round of grants, bringing the total to $1 million.
A panel of arts professionals, community members and RAC offiicials chose this year鈥檚 recipients from among 176 applicants. As in past years, the committee worked to identify artists who show potential.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to be wildly successful; what we鈥檙e looking for is momentum,鈥� said Felicia Shaw, executive director of RAC.
Recipients use the money to buy materials or studio space, or even pay babysitters so they can concentrate on their work. Some are able to quit jobs that don鈥檛 involve making art.
鈥淭o allow them to finish that script or to focus more deeply on their craft,鈥� Shaw said. 鈥淭hat is gold for an artist, the idea of time, or space.鈥�
Many become employers themselves, hiring collaborators who鈥檝e long supported their work.
鈥淎ll those people that they normally have to ask to do things for free, they can now pay them,鈥� Shaw said.
The bottom line is about supporting the vibrancy of the entire arts community.
鈥淏ecause what we really want to see happen, is artists stay here,鈥� Shaw said.
Here鈥檚 the full list of RAC鈥檚 newest Artist Fellows:
- 鈥� Visual
- 鈥� Music
- 鈥� Craft and Traditional
- 鈥� Craft and Traditional
- 鈥� Literature
- 鈥� Design
- 鈥� Music
- 鈥� Literature
- 鈥� Theatre
- 鈥� Media
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