星期一, 5月 23, 2022

波士頓市發80萬元補助120名藝術創意人士

(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市長的藝術文化辦公室今 (23) 日宣佈,經由「機會基金」撥發總額80萬餘元補助款,給120名藝術家,教學藝術家,文化實踐者及創意工作者。

今年是波士頓市辦理這項目的第5年,撥發金額也是歷年來最多的一次。

「機會基金」共分2各類別,一為藝術家職業發展補助,一次性的最高補助額可達5000元,另一為社區藝術經驗,藝術家可申請最高一萬元的補助,把藝術體驗及活動帶進波士頓社區。

波士頓市今年優先考慮在多徹斯特,東波士頓,海德公園及麥特潘等地居住或工作的申請者。女性,有色人種,移民,同性戀社區,或經濟上受新冠病毒打擊最嚴重的藝術專業,也獲得優先考慮。

                             今年申請到補助款的藝術家,77.5%居住在前述社區中,86.6%由社區藝術體驗項目支持的活動,也都在前述社區之一舉辦。76.7%的領得補助者為有色人種,61.8%領得補助者的年收入低於25000元。

                        波士頓市藝術及文化長 Kara Elliott-Ortega表示,波士頓市仍然以致力處理波士頓藝術社區內的不平等為優先要務。

                     獲得本年度「機會基金」者包括,獲得社區藝術體驗類補助的Erin Caldwell,將於202264日舉辦有40個樂隊參加,要支持多徹斯特節 (Dorchfest)的首屆亞當斯艾虛蒙門廊節 (Adams-Ashmont porchfest);獲得藝術家職業發展類補助的Sheila del Bosque Fuentes,將在華埠組織一次多元感應音樂會,揉合音樂與視覺藝術,以助社會中女性增強力量。

波士頓市今年撥發了46萬元給「機會基金」的營運預算,其中30萬元來自美國援救計畫 (ARPA) 經費,以及4萬元來自哈佛奧斯頓彈性基金 (Harvard Allston Flex Fund)

                      查詢「機會基金」詳情,可上網 boston.gov/opportunity-fund


MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $800,000 AWARDED TO 120 LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE WORKERS THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY FUND

The Opportunity Fund grants provide support for career development and community arts experiences throughout the city.
BOSTON - Monday, May 23, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture today announced 120 grants totaling $801,343 have been awarded to artists, teaching artists, cultural practitioners, and creative workers as part of the City’s Opportunity Fund program. This is the fifth year of the program, and the most funding that has been allocated to the program to date.

“Thanks to the artists and creatives that live and work in our city, our residents are going to be able to participate in numerous free arts and cultural experiences in their communities throughout the year,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Arts and culture are a crucial element of our city’s recovery, and we’re proud to be able to support those that play such an instrumental role in our arts sector through this program.”

The City offered Opportunity Fund grants in two categories: Artist Career Development, through which artists could apply for up to $5,000 for one-time artistic opportunities that helped to further their career, including supporting an artistic project, purchasing materials or supplies, and professional development opportunities; and Community Arts Experiences, through which artists could apply for up to $10,000 to bring free arts experiences and events into Boston communities. 

This year, the City prioritized applicants who live or work in Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Mattapan. Artists and creatives who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQIAP+ community, or have artistic professions that were most economically impacted by COVID-19 were also prioritized.

77.5% of this year’s grantees live in one of the four priority neighborhoods, and 86.6% of the events and programs supported by the Community Arts Experience category take place in one of those neighborhoods. 76.7% of grantees identify as people of color, and 61.8% have an annual income of less than $25,000.

“Addressing inequities in Boston’s arts community remains a key priority for us in the City of Boston, and we’re really excited to be able to support those who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in this round of grant funding,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture. “We’re also looking forward to bringing more accessible arts opportunities to neighborhoods that haven’t had as much funding to support them in the past.”

Examples of this year’s Opportunity Fund grantees include: 

  • Erin Caldwell, who received a grant in the Community Arts Experiences category to support Dorchfest, the inaugural Adams-Ashmont porchfest event featuring 40 local bands on June 4, 2022.
  • Sheila del Bosque Fuentes, who received a grant in the Artist Career Development category to organize a multisensory concert in Chinatown merging music and visual arts to empower women in society.
  • Sonja Tengblad, who received a grant in the Community Arts Experiences category to produce and share a performance of "Mr. Twister and the Tale of Tornado Alley", an opera for families in East Boston.
  • Gabriel Fernandez, who received a grant in the Artist Career Development category to acquire an art studio space and invite other artists to organize around larger projects in partnership with businesses in the East Boston neighborhood. 
  • Odaine Williams, who received a grant in the Artist Career Development category to purchase equipment needed to launch online singing lessons.

“This is the first of what will hopefully be an annual and expanding event, and unlike most porchfests, we were committed to paying musicians,” said Opportunity Fund grantee Erin Caldwell. “We know that a) to get the caliber of music that will really make the event fun and b) to honor the work that creatives do, and the enrichment they bring to our lives, payment was critical. The Opportunity Fund played a major role in making that possible, boosting not just one career, but 40.”

“I'm simply thrilled I can provide my community with an event like this,” said Opportunity Fund grantee Sonja Tengblad. “East Boston was hit so hard by COVID, and we also have the highest number of essential workers. Since East Boston also faces so many environmental burdens, we will use this event as a way to spread the word about initiatives that offer mitigation and environmental protection.”

Support for inclusive artistic projects that make us question reality, or that offer us experiences that unite us as a community is fundamental,” said Opportunity Fund grantee Sheila del Bosque Fuentes. “Boston is one of the most incredible cities I know in terms of art. I believe that artists in Boston are creating a community where the diversity of voices is highly listened to and respected.”

The City of Boston allocated more than $460,000 to the Opportunity Fund in its Operating Budget this year. An additional $300,000 was allocated through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and the Harvard Allston Flex Fund contributed $40,000.

To learn more about the Opportunity Fund, visit boston.gov/opportunity-fund.

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