Leeway Foundation Announces Spring 2018 Art and Change Grantees
PHILADELPHIA – Today, the Leeway Foundation announced $55,000 in grants to 22 women and trans artists and cultural producers in Greater Philadelphia, supporting their work to address a range of social change issues.
Leeway’s Art and Change Grant provides project-based funds of up to $2,500 to women and trans artists and cultural producers who: propose a project that impacts a larger group, audience or community; have financial need; and live in the Greater Philadelphia region. The grant supports artists practicing a variety of disciplines including performance, crafts and textiles, and visual arts.
The following 22 artists were all awarded $2,500 grants (in alphabetical order):
Ada Trillo of Mount Airy, Visual Arts
Allison Erdneka Budschalow of Germantown, Folk Arts/Media Arts
Anissa Weinraub of West Philadelphia, Performance
Arielle Julia Brown of South Philadelphia, Performance
Beeta Baghoolizadeh of West Philadelphia, Visual Arts/Media Arts
Farrah Rahaman of West Philadelphia, Media Arts/Visual Arts
Iris Devins of West Philadelphia, Media Arts
Jaq Masters of Cedar Park, Media Arts
Katie Rauth of West Philadelphia, Media Arts/Performance
Kennedy Allen of West Philadelphia, Literary Arts
Mal Cherifi of West Philadelphia, Performance
Mary DeWitt of Media, and Paulette Carrington of North Philadelphia,Visual Arts/Performance
Monika Estrella Negra of Cobbs Creek, Media Arts
Nikki Powerhouse of North Philadelphia, Performance/Literary Arts
Pratima Agrawal of Kensington, Performance
Raven Hollaway of West Philadelphia, and Sonja Nosisa Noonan-Ngwane of Haverford, Multidisciplinary
Rorie Still of Wynnefield, Visual Arts/Literary Arts
Sannii Crespina-Flores of Northern Liberties, Media Arts/Performance
Shanel Edwards of West Philadelphia, Performance/Media Arts
Wit Lopez of West Philadelphia, Multidisciplinary
Art and Change Grants are distributed twice a year and evaluated by an independent peer review panel. The Spring 2018 review panel consisted of cultural organizer and facilitator Andrea Jacome, filmmaker and sound artist Catherine Pancake (LTA ‘17, WOO ‘17, ACG ‘16), and multidisciplinary artist Petra Floyd.
Applications are made available on the Leeway website, and may also be obtained by calling (215) 545-4078 or emailing info@leeway.org. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend one of the many support sessions offered throughout the year, or schedule an appointment with a staff member for one-on-one support.
Press inquiries and photo requests should be directed to Denise Beek at (215) 545-4078, ext. 14 or dbeek@leeway.org.
*We use the term “trans” in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and more generally, anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is nonconforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.
ABOUT LEEWAY
The Leeway Foundation supports women and transgender artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through our grantmaking and other programs, we promote artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in the service of movements for economic and social justice. For more information about Leeway, its grant programs, grantees and events, visit www.leeway.org.
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