Creative Pinellas is pleased to announce the recipients of its new Emerging Artist Grant Program. With this grant award, ten (10) Pinellas County recipients will receive funding from Creative Pinellas through their partnership with the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, along with a mentor in their chosen discipline to help them reach their next level and an opportunity to have their new work unveiled in October, 2017 at the new home of Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (the former Gulf Coast Museum of Art.) The public will be invited to see the work of these talented and diverse emerging artists at an exciting and pivotal time as they gain momentum in their careers.
In this first award cycle of the Emerging Artist Program, the awarded artists represent six (6) disciplines: Gloria Munoz for Literature/Poetry, Kellie Hanson for Choreography, Mark Feinman for Music Composition/Jazz, Danielle Simone Colon for Visual Arts/Sculpture, Desiree Moore for Media Arts/Film-Video; Natalie Symons for Theatre/Playwriting, Nathan Beard for Visual Arts/Craft; Jacob Troyli for Visual Arts/Painting; Shannon Leah Halvorsen for Visual Arts/Other, Kenny Jensen for Visual Arts/Painting.
äóìAll of us at Creative Pinellas are incredibly excited about the Emerging Artist Grant program,äó said Barbara St. Clair, Executive Director of Creative Pinellas, äóìThe program grew out of an in-depth discovery process with the community, and listening carefully. We have a vibrant community of young and emerging artists here in Pinellas County, and they identified very specific needs – financial support, recognition, the opportunity to show their work, and help and support in developing themselves as artists. This grant addresses each of those and is an example of hitting on all cylinders.äó
Through the Emerging Artist Grant Program, Creative Pinellas will further offer each recipientäó»s public presence by providing them the opportunity to share their thoughts about art and process on a dedicated blog at ImpactReturns.org and by participating in a moderated äóìConversation with Emerging Artistsäó event to be scheduled in Fall, 2017 and open to the community.
To determine the selected recipients, the total pool of thirty-seven (37) artist applicants were publicly reviewed and scored by a panel of five (5) arts professionals including professors at area universities and recognized artists. After the rigorous review process, the awardees were recommended by Review Panel vote and ratified by the Creative Pinellas Board of Directors.
äóìIt is important to us at Creative Pinellas to provide a wide range of grant and other programs for that both serve the needs of our community now and that also look toward the future,äó said Elizabeth Brincklow, Engagement Director who designed and implements the Grant program. äóìThe Emerging Artists of today may be the leading artists of tomorrow. We want to provide them the recognition and support they need to develop and succeed. Being able to fund new work and have it viewed by area gallerists and media sources helps us to sustain and retain our artists, increases Pinellas Countyäó»s cultural capital as an arts destination and provides lasting value to the community.äó
Since its inception in March 2016, Creative Pinellas has awarded or committed over $200,000 in grants funds to 38 artists and 22 arts organizations.
Detailed descriptions of the emerging artists who received grants will be available here on the Creative Pinellas website. Additionally, the Impact Returns grantees will be making regular blog posts on the website ImpactReturns.org describing their progress and activities throughout the granting period which ends November 10, 2017.
