Artists can receive unrestricted funding through new program

Elle Perry | Daily Memphian

Memphis-area artists can now submit applications to receive unrestricted financial support.

Through the pilot program — called ARTSassist — at least 15 visual artists, dancers, filmmakers and musicians will receive a $5,000 grant. Applications close Friday, April 19.

Visual and dance artists can apply directly through ARTSmemphis for grants.

A group of out-of-town artists identified by the artist advisory committee will select the grantees.

ARTSassist’s artist advisory committee is composed of Carl Moore (as chair) as well as Khara Woods (representing visual art), Richard Lou (representing visual art), Terran Noir (representing dance), Jayme Stokes (representing dance), Morgan Massey (representing music) and Kayla Myers (representing film).

Musicians and filmmakers can receive grant funds through existing Music Export Memphis and IndieMemphis initiatives, respectively.

Music Export Memphis executive director Elizabeth Cawein said artists need subsidies to build sustainable careers.

Cawein said that in turn leads to lasting, tangible benefits to the city of Memphis.

“It’s about resources and education and professional development, of course — but ultimately, they need direct financial support to take that leap,” she said.

The new grant program is an expansion of ARTSmemphis’ ArtsAccelerator, which provided $5,000 grants to visual artists. The new program is inspired by the nonprofit’s COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund.

“We granted almost $1 million to over 800 artists across artistic disciplines during COVID,” said ARTSmemphis President and CEO Elizabeth Rouse in a statement. “The immediate impact not only proved the need for but sped up our longer-term goal of making individual artist support a core budget component of ARTSmemphis.”

ARTSmemphis’ goal is to continue the program annually and grow its fund through contributions. ARTSmemphis donors can pinpoint their donations specifically to the ARTSassist.

According to ARTSmemphis, success of the program will be defined by the artists: how they have been able to advance their career and artistic goals and how this funding has made that progress possible.