September 2010 Art and Change Grants
PHILADELPHIA—The Leeway Foundation announces $65,000 in grants to 26 women and transgender artists living in the six-county Philadelphia area (including Camden) to further their work integrating a variety of arts disciplines and social change.
The Art and Change Grant provides project-based grants of up to $2,500 to women and transgender (which includes those who identify as transsexual and genderqueer) artists who: have art and social change projects or opportunities that impact a larger group, audience or community; have financial need; and live in the Delaware Valley area. One of the more unique aspects of the Art and Change grant is its requirement for projects to be supported by a Change Partner—a person, organization, or business, that supports the project in some way.
The September deadline was the final cycle for 2010. Of the 26 recipients, only three artists previously received funding from the organization. The grants awarded went to artists working in a variety of fields including puppetry, comics, oral history, and hip hop music.
This cycle’s grantees, selected out of 86 applications, are:
Aja Beech, Literary Arts, Kensington, $2,500
Amai Myrna C. Munchus, Multi-disciplinary, Mantua, $2,500
Angie Arahood, Crafts/Textiles and Performance, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Ayoka Quinones, Multi-disciplinary, East Falls, $2,500
Carina Romano, Muti-disciplinary, Northeast Philadelphia, $2,500
Catherine C. Quillman, Multi-disciplinary, Borough of West Chester, $2,500
E Kairo Miles, Multi-disciplinary, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Ethel Cee, Performance and Media Arts, South Philadelphia, $2,500
Jenna S. Peters-Golden, Visual Arts and Literary Arts, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Jennifer Baker, Visual Arts and Literary Arts, Northern Liberties, $2,500
Keila Cordova, Performance, Northern Liberties, $2,500
Laura Deutch, Media Arts, South Philadelphia, $2,500
Madhusmita Bora, Performance and Folk Arts, Germantown, $2,500
Mendal Polish, Media Arts, Southwest Philadelphia, $2,500
Najee, Crafts/Textiles and Visual Arts, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Nanci Hersh, Visual Arts, Merestone, $2,500
Nsenga A. Knight, Visual Arts and Performance, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Sara Yassky, Performance, Wynnewood, $2,500
Serena Reed, Media Arts and Performance, Francisville, $2,500
Shannon Murphy, Performance and Visual Arts, Kensington, $2,500
Tanji Gilliam, Visual Arts and Literary Arts, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Trish Metzner-Lynch, Multi-disciplinary, Westmont, $2,500
Tristan, Literary Arts, Fishtown, $2,500
Wren Warner, Media Arts and Visual Arts, West Philadelphia, $2,500
Yinka Orafidiya, Visual Arts, West Mount Airy, $2,500
Zaye Tete, Folk Arts, Southwest Philadelphia, $2,500
The Art and Change grants are distributed twice per year and are evaluated by an independent peer review panel. The September 2010 review panel consisted of conceptual artist, researcher and teacher Carolyn Chernoff, visual artist and activist Leeroy Kang, and performing artist and arts administrator Theresa Shockley.
Applications are made available on the Leeway website and outreach events are held throughout the year. The next Art and Change Grant Deadline is March 15, 2011.
Foundation staff members are available (by appointment) to provide support to potential applicants via workshops and advisory sessions. Applications may also be obtained by calling (215) 545-4078 or emailing info@leeway.org.
