The Leeway Foundation introduces new grantmaking to support local women artists creating change
Philadelphia, PA — The Leeway Foundation announces a new grantmaking program honoring the power and vision of women's art and its ability to create change. Since 1993, Leeway has celebrated and advocated for women artists in the region, awarding over $1.6 million in grants; the new grant programs are a natural culmination of Leeway's work for the past eleven years.
The Art and Change Grant and the Leeway Transformation Award will fund women artists residing in the five-county Philadelphia region–working in any art form, traditional or non-traditional–who engage in individual or community change.
Leeway believes in the power of art to create change within an individual, a group of people, a community, or an entire society. Our new programs support a broad spectrum of art and change. How an artist defines her work as art for change is up to her: It can be what inspires her to create, the artistic process in which she engages, the art itself, the interaction of her art with an audience, or something else entirely.
Making the grant process accessible and equitable to all women artists–especially women whose work is often ignored, silenced, and marginalized because of who they are or what they create, such as women of color, immigrant women, queer women, transgender women, poor women, and women who take risks with art form and content–is a crucial piece of Leeway's new programs.
Leeway is collaborating with local community-based organizations, such as the Philadelphia Folklore Project, Scribe Video Center, and Taller Puertorriqueño, to provide assistance to potential applicants, ranging from translating applications into another language to helping first-time grant applicants complete the application. Leeway also invited community members to help formulate and evaluate the new programs; this Advisory Council offered invaluable guidance and vision throughout the process. Local Philadelphia-based Advisory Council members include the following artists and arts advocates: Denise M. Brown, Homer Jackson, Julia López, Trapeta Mayson, and Zoe Strauss; they are joined by DC-based Helen Brunner.
The Art and Change Grant provides immediate, short-term grants of up to $2,500 to women and transgender women artists residing in the five-county Philadelphia region who need financial assistance to take advantage of an opportunity for art and change. All opportunities must: have an impact on the work of the artist; have a transformational element; be important at this particular moment in the artist's life; and be in collaboration with or supported by a Change Partner. Up to $95,000 will be available through this grant program. The 2005 deadlines are: February 11, April 11, June 20, and October 31.
The Leeway Transformation Award is an unrestricted award of $15,000 given annually to women and transgender women artists residing in the five-county Philadelphia region whose art: engages in change and has an impact on the artist herself or a larger group, audience or community; represents artistic excellence; and demonstrates continued growth and commitment. Up to $165,000 will be available through this grant program. The Transformation Award application is a two-stage process. The Stage 1 application deadline is April 6, 2005. Applicants invited to apply for Stage 2 will submit work samples and receive a $150 application stipend. The Stage 2 deadline is August 17, 2005. All awardees will create a free community event to share their art and change work with others.
Applications and guidelines for the Art and Change Grant and The Leeway Transformation Award are available online (leeway.org) or by calling Leeway (215.545-4078).
The Leeway Foundation's mission is to support individual women artists, arts programs and arts organizations, focusing on the Greater Philadelphia region, in order to help them achieve individual and community transformation.
