Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District Announce 2nd Year of Artist Opportunity Grants

Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) are pleased to announce the return of the Artist Opportunity Grant program for 2017.

The program, which is funded by MCACD and administered by Culture Works, provides grants to help artists take advantage of specific, imminent opportunities for professional development and the creation or completion of new work. Individual artists of all disciplines–writers, painters, photographers, actors, musicians, dancers, sculptors, film makers and more–are invited to apply. Applicants must reside in Montgomery County, and grant funded-activities must be completed during calendar year 2018.

$30,000 in funding is available for the 2017 grant cycle. Awards are expected to range from $250-$2,500 and cannot exceed $3,000. Artists can apply through the Culture Works website from August 1 through September 30, 2017. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel later in the fall.

In 2016, the first year of the grant program, six artists received funding to complete local and international exhibitions, artist residencies, and professional training in music and theatre.

“MCACD is happy to support individual artists through this partnership with Culture Works,” said Matt Dunn, Executive Director. “The District and the County Commissioners recognize the richness individual artists and arts organizations add to our quality of life. Artists can choose to live anywhere and we want them to live here and to thrive,” said Dunn.

“For the arts to flourish and enhance community life, there must be ideas, energy, and drive from individual artists. Artists cannot make these contributions without unhampered creative time,” said Culture Works Executive Director Lisa Hanson. “This is a remarkable opportunity for individual artists in Montgomery County. I look forward to seeing the life-inspiring work that these grants will help support.”

More details about the competitive grant process are available here.