A little thing!

For Immediate Release
ArtsKC Fund Announces New Inspiration Grants
Kansas City, Mo. (August 27, 2008) — The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City Board of Directors approved $10,500 in new ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Award funding today for nine projects by local artists. Grants in the Inspiration category support projects that will have significant impact on an artists’ career, cultivate creativity and contribute to the artistic vibrancy of Kansas City.

This is the second of three rounds of Inspiration awards for the 2008 grant cycle. In the first round last spring, 10 proposals were funded for a total of $12,674.
“This round of Inspiration awards is helping to fund a number of unique arts projects and interesting collaborations. The breadth of disciplines covered by these awards really reflects the diversity of talent among artists in Kansas City,” says ArtsKC Fund Grants Director, Paul Tyler.
Second Round of Inspiration Grants, 2008:

Ahmed Alaadeen: $1,000
Jazz saxophonist and Kansas City legend Ahmed Alaadeen will develop and publish a jazz methods manual targeted to jazz students of all academic backgrounds. It will allow them to learn from Alaadeen’s 50+ years of jazz performance and will be supplemented by rich details on Kansas City’s jazz heritage.

Beau Bledsoe, Nathan Granner, and Mike Hill: $1,000
Guitarist Beau Bledsoe, singer Nathan Granner, and visual artist Mike Hill are teaming up to produce a presentation of the songs of Franz Schubert accompanied by a commissioned video work. While they have toured “Schubertiad” before, Inspiration funding will help enhance the program with a video work from Hill and projection equipment for touring.

Julia Denesha: $1,000
Photographer Julia Denesha will install a photography exhibit of 45 framed prints documenting her images and portraits of Slovakian ‘Roma’ or gypsies that were created over several years that she spent living with families throughout Eastern Europe. The images capture their stories and struggles through the lens of her camera. Inspiration funding will partially fund the printing and framing of the prints.

Lisa Marie Evans: $2,000
Filmmaker Lisa Marie Evans has created the documentary, “The Same But Different,” which explores the life roles of four transgender persons in the Midwest including: a fundamentalist Christian anarchist, a Catholic Republican, your average single guy; and a comedian and parent of two. Although the film has already premiered at Kansas City film festivals, funding is needed to support post-production costs and efforts to successfully complete and distribute the film.
GEAR (Mark Schweiger), Hector Casanova, Lori Raye Erickson and others: $1,000
Visual artist GEAR is organizing a pair of group shows in September and October at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center that will explore underground art such as graffiti, comics and tattooing. The show will have two components: a commissioned exhibit of eight local ‘lowbrow’ artists’ paintings, and mixed media work and live mural painting from the eight artists. Inspiration funding will support the supplies necessary for the live portion of the exhibition.

Tex Jernigan: $1,000
Visual artist Tex Jernigan is creating a new interactive sculpture/installation project that he will take on tour throughout the Midwest and East coast. He will build a 50’x 5’ oval-shaped pool and take portraits of patrons in the pool, using its reflective properties to display the sky and clouds above. Although he has tested this approach with a small prototype, this grant will help fund the materials to construct the full pool which will be suitable for touring.

Ascot J. Smith: $500
Filmmaker and visual artist Ascot Smith has created the short science-fiction film, “The Last Man of Idaho,” as the story of a daydreaming struggling artist who finds a talking potato that provides guidance in life. The film is completely comprised of digital photographic stills. While the film is complete, funding will be used for post-production expenses, including audio editing.

Mark Southerland & Jeff Harshbarger: $1,000
Jazz musicians Mark Southerland and Jeff Harshbarger are organizing a concert series for the public featuring a core group of musicians who are highly invested in “deep improv.” The concerts are planned to take place on the rooftop terrace of the Kansas City Library central location in downtown Kansas City.

Heidi Stubblefield: $2,000
Arts educator, actress and director Heidi Stubblefield wrote and produced “The Coppelia Project: A Clown Ballet in Three Acts,” a nonverbal movement piece that debuted at the Kansas City Fringe Festival in July 2008. The show was developed to be a touring production, and Inspiration funding will assist in building a portable set and creating an enhanced sound design commensurate with current professional touring standards.
Letters of inquiry from artists interested in applying for the third and final round of 2008 grants are due November 14, 2008. Visit http://www.artskc.org/ for more details.

About the ArtsKC Fund
The ArtsKC Fund is a united arts fund in the metropolitan Kansas City area that raises new money to support a wide range of arts organizations and programs. Its purpose is to provide stable sources of new financial support for the arts, broaden access to high-quality arts experiences, and sustain excellence in the arts and arts administration. The ArtsKC Fund is an initiative of the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, a not-for-profit organization that serves the five-county Kansas City metropolitan area, and strives to strengthen and enrich the community by growing appreciation, participation and support of its arts resources. For more information about the ArtsKC Fund, visit http://www.artskc.org/.
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