Congratulations to the 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows in Poetry!
The New York Foundation for the Arts announced the recipients of 2017 Artist Fellowships yesterday. The recipients hail from disciplines including Craft/Sculpture, Digital/Electronic Arts, Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts, and of course, our personal favorite: Poetry! The judges in that category, Albert Abonado, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Rachel McKibbens, Stacy Szymaszek, and Matvei Yankelevich, selected the following recipients:
Desiree C. Bailey
Joey De Jesus
Betsy Fagin
Jake Matkov
Allyson Paty
Jayson Smith
Ann Stephenson
Bridget Talone
Michelle Whittaker
From NYFA: “The organization has awarded a total of $644,000 to 95 artists (including three collaborations) whose ages range from 25-84 years throughout New York State in the following disciplines: Crafts/Sculpture, Digital/Electronic Arts, Nonfiction Literature, Poetry, and Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts.” Let's pick up with the story there:
Fifteen finalists, who do not receive a cash award, but benefit from a range of other NYFA services, were also announced. A complete list of the Fellows and Finalists follows.
The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Program makes unrestricted cash grants of $7,000 to artists working in 15 disciplines, awarding five per year on a triennial basis. The program is highly competitive and this year’s recipients and finalists were selected by discipline-specific peer panels from an applicant pool of 2,744. Since it was launched in 1985, the program has awarded over $31 million to more than 4,400 artists.
“Being an artist is hard work, and a struggle for many; a recent report by New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs found that 40% of the artists surveyed cannot afford art supplies and tools,” said Michael L. Royce, Executive Director, NYFA. “This sobering figure is one of the reasons why we are proud to support artists across New York State with unrestricted grants. For 31 years, artists of all disciplines have put the money towards anything that helps make their lives and practice easier, including buying the supplies and time they need to make their art and push their careers forward” he added.
New York State Council on the Arts Chair, Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, said: “The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship program supports New York State’s creative communities, and NYSCA is proud of our leadership role in this nearly 32-year collaboration with NYFA. Since 1985, NYSCA has provided $31 million in funding for this critical program. Each individual grant helps the recipient more freely engage in imaginative work, and expand the boundaries of creative media. It is gratifying to know that this program has made a real difference in the daily lives of thousands of artists, throughout New York State."
Learn more at New York Foundation for the Arts.