Published: December 12, 2009
Five local artists received $1,000 each as part of the "CAP Stimulus Awards for Individual Artists." These special grants were created to encourage local artists to not only advance their own careers, but also take part in re-invigorating the local economy. A grant panel of artists and community members reviewed applications from Tompkins County artists of all disciplines, finally deciding to award the fellowships to the following five local talents: Charity Rae Burger(photography/assemblage), Wendy Dann (playwright), Rob Licht(sculpture), Sally Lamb McCune (musical composition), and Wilka Roig (photography/installation art).
Just like every other professional in our community, artists buy local goods, frequent local businesses, and practice their trade locally. These awards exemplify the duty of CAP to make sure local artists can continue to be part of the community in that way.
Award recipient Rob Licht thinks the program provides more than just a financial benefit. "To receive this stimulus grant is to receive an affirmation that the arts are every bit as worthy of public support as...anyone else that has received stimulus money in these hard times," says Licht, "Far above the financial boost, it is a huge boost to my artistic morale."
Other recipients have been inspired by another scarce resource these awards have helped them acquire: time. "I'm so delighted to have received this support," says playwright Wendy Dann. "It gives me the funding needed to continue the research required for the writing of my next project."
The stimulus awards were one of six grant programs administered by CAP in 2009. Others included the NYSCA funded Decentralization, CAP II, and Arts-in-Education grants, as well as the Linden Center for Creativity and Aging Community Arts Grantsand the Tompkins County Tourism Program's Arts/Cultural Organization Development Grants.
The grant disbursement from these six programs totaled more than $235,000.
See the FULL LIST HERE