Creative Pinellas, the Countyäó»s Local Arts Agency kicked off its new äóìImpact Returnsäó grant cycle with the launch of professional artist fellowships to support and sustain artists and returning artist fellowships to nurture artists who are returning to the profession after a break in their artistic careers. Artists who have created a recognized body of original work, are striving to achieve the highest level of professional recognition and who have a history of increasingly successful work are encouraged to apply
The fellowship application period begins on October 5 and continues through November 16, 2016. Fellowships of $5,000 each are financially unrestricted, and artists are encouraged to use them in ways they believe will be meaningful to the enhancement of their work or their careers.
Detailed information including applications and guidelines for both the professional and returning artists grants are available online at the organizationäó»s special website impactreturns.org.
äóìWe are very excited about this new fellowship cycle,äó said Elizabeth Brincklow, Engagement Director for Creative Pinellas. äóìWhen we launched our first fellowship program last year, we knew there was a need for grants for artists, to allow them to focus on their work, to explore and try new media or develop or expand their work. But truly, we were amazed at the number of artists who applied äóñ 126 äóñ and proud of the outstanding quality of their artwork. Pinellas County has an arts community of national and international renown, and the fellowship program helped cement that for participants and for the community who had the chance to connect with the artists by reading their blogs at rapidreturns.org and attending our äóìConversations With the Fellowsäó that we held in St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor.äó
In addition to the impactreturns.org website, where interested applicants can go to learn more about the fellowship programs, Creative Pinellas will be holding two workshops to assist applicants in developing and submitting a successful fellowship application. The first is a free workshop on How to Write an Artistäó»s Statement. Taught by Creative Pinellas Digital Content Manager, and freelance curator, Danny Olda, the workshop will be held Wednesday, October 12 at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave Clearwater, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The second is a Bidders Workshop that will be lead by Elizabeth Brincklow, to assist applicants in preparing their fellowship grant. It will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd Pinellas Park from 3 äóñ 4:30 p.m.
Creative Pinellas will also be introducing new and expanded grants starting in 2017. These include grants for emerging artists and for mentoring artists to assist them to develop their skills and portfolio; funding for artists and arts organizations to travel and represent Pinellas County at renown arts and cultural events, or to host visiting artists locally; funding to expand existing successful events to larger audiences throughout Pinellas County; organizational grants to support nonprofit arts and cultural programs and revolving grants to help nonprofit organizations meet specific needs throughout the year.
äóìCreative Pinellas takes our goal of supporting artists and arts organizations, very seriously,äó said Barbara St. Clair, Executive Director of the organization. äóìThat is why in our new grant cycle we are offering a range of grants to support and sustain working artists, to lift emerging artists and to help nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to fulfill their mission. Information about the grants, as we launch them, will appear on our grants website impactreturns.org, which will also feature our artist blogs, as well as at creativepinellas.org.äó
Funding for these and other Creative Pinellas grants are dependent on the support and overall budget approval of the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.
