2018 Grant Recipients
ALLENTOWN, PA – The Allentown Arts Commission is awarding $45,000 in grants to five recipients of the 2018 Artist-in-Residence Program. The program was established this year and is designed to artistically engage the community and create a bridge between the neighborhoods throughout the City of Allentown by fostering inclusiveness and celebrating diversity.
Two $4,500 grants have been awarded to Emerging Artists who are at the earliest stages of their career. Two $9,000 grants have been awarded to Established Artists as defined by those who have created an independent body of work or performed extensively on stage or screen. One $18,000 grant has been awarded to a Professional Artist who has reached an advanced level of achievement in their discipline.
Receiving one Emerging Artist grant is independent artist Pedro DeLee for his mural project to be installed at Union Terrace Elementary School during the fall. Also receiving a $4500 Emerging Artist grant is Puertorrican Cultural Preservation under the direction of Robert and Flor Velez for their Communal Drumming and Dancing workshop programs held at Alliance Hall, with performances throughout the city parks and events including the Puerto Rican Day Parade in July.
Receiving one Established Artist grant is Jill Odegaarde, professor at Cedar Crest College and 2017 Arts Ovation Visual Artist recipient, for her Images Make Stories project incorporating handmade papermaking and bookmaking for residents, students and refugees at locations including the Church of the Mediator, McKinley Elementary School, Art in the Park and Third Thursday events. The second Established Artist grant recipient is Chloe Cole Wilson for Project Silk presents OUT, a program for LGBTQ+ youth of color to create their own art and tell their stories through poetry and movement with weekly workshops and final performances at Valley Youth House and Project Silk.
The Professional Artist Grant of $18,000 has been awarded to world-renowned musician and educator Cliff Haltzman Tracy for his musical instrument program in Allentown elementary schools. The Flutophone project incorporates eight weeks of lessons for third graders in seven different Allentown School District elementary schools across the city before a community performance at each school for students, parents and teachers, capped off by a community-wide performance by participating students at a major upcoming civic event this fall. Students will leave the program with a new-found musical talent along with their own personal Flutophone and music instruction book.
Artists of all genres including visual, music, theatre, dance, literary and digital were encouraged to submit a proposal to the Allentown Arts Commission between February and April of this year for projects to be completed by December 31, 2018. To be eligible for the grant, artists were required to live, work or study in Allentown.
A thorough review of all proposals was made through a juried process including leaders of the Allentown artistic community representing residents, businesses, civic, educational and arts and cultural representatives under the leadership of Norberto Dominguez, Chair of the Allentown Arts Commission New Initiatives Committee. The recommendations of the jury were then voted upon and approved unanimously by the members of the Allentown Art Commission. The Allentown Arts Commission Artist-in-Residence program will be managed by the Cultural Coalition of Allentown.
For more information on the 2018 Artist-in-Residence Program please visit the Allentown Arts Commission website at www.allentownpa.gov/arts.
Information provided to TVL on behalf of the Allentown Arts Commission by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
