In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the New Deal, the Wyoming Arts Council will offer grants of up to $5,000 for arts projects related to American Master artists from the New Deal era.
Projects should focus on artwork created by American New Deal era master artists, or by contemporary Wyoming master artists inspired by or documenting New Deal artwork.
Some recognized master artists of the period include Aaron Copeland, Bella Lewitsky, Glenn Miller, Busby Berkeley, Zora Neale Hurston, Ernest Hemingway, Louis Armstrong, Vardis Fisher, Lawrence Welk, Clifford Odets, Woody Guthrie, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and many more. Contemporary artist examples are winners of WAC fellowships or artists who have national recognition through the NEA or other major awards.
Applicants will need to make an argument for why someone is a master artist. Funded projects will be required to advertise this program as part of the WAC American Masterpieces New Deal project. Events may take place between February 23 and June 30, 2008. Planning, rehearsals or other preparatory work may take place from January 1, 2008 on.
Possible ideas for arts projects include:
• Concerts or performances
• Literary readings and publications
• Update of Wyoming: A Guide to its History, Highways, and People
• Radio shows / plays
• Exhibits of artwork created in the New Deal era
• Contemporary exhibits inspired by the New Deal/Great Depression
• Cowboy songs and poetry gatherings
• New Deal era film festivals
• Lectures or symposia about New Deal arts
Requests may be for up to fifty percent of the proposed project cash expenses -- a 1-to-1 cash match requirement. Maximum request is $5,000. Grants will be fully funded or not at all.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted at least six weeks (42 days) before the project start date.
FMI: Marirose Morris, Arts Access Specialist, mmorri@state.wy.us; (307) 777-7723; FAX (307) 777-5499; TDD (307) 777-5964.
Click here to start a new American Masterpieces application.
