Chicago Arts Organization's New Grant Aims to Provide a SPARK
WDCB’s Gary Zidek takes a closer look at Chicago Artists Coalition’s New SPARK Micorgrant.
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“It’s really recognizing artists from historically marginalized and excluded communities in the Chicago arts scene.” - Chicago Artists Coalition’s Adia Sykes talking about the organization new SPARK Microgrant.
Adia Sykes, CAC SPARK Microgrant Manager
This past April, Chicago Artists Coalition celebrated the 15 inaugural awardees of the organization’s new SPARK Microgrant. The unrestricted award was created specifically for emerging Chicago-based visual artists who: identify as ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American),have acute financial needs, have a disability, or are self-taught/non-formally trained artist who has made their art practice a primary vocation. With assistance from the Joyce Foundation, the SPARK Microgrant provides unrestricted awards of $2,000.
Check out a list of the inaugural SPARK recipients here.
Chicago artist Candace Hunter
Chicago-based collage artist Candace Hunter is among the inaugural group of SPARK awardees. She plans to use the grant to help fund a five year public art project titled LOSS/SCAPE.
“I am an artist of a certain age, who when I was a young woman there were no opportunities like this.” - Candace Hunter talking about CAC’s SPARK program.
Chicago-based artist Alexandra Antoine
Fellow SPARK grant recipient Alexandra Antoine creates work that focuses on her Haitian-American identity. She plans on using the SPARK grant to learn more about Haitian furniture-making.
LIBATION by Chicago-based photographer Rose Blouin
