$43,600 awarded to 17 recipients in the second 2021 round of funding for the City of Windsor’s Arts, Culture & Heritage (ACHF) grant program
Twenty-five local artists and creators applied to the City of Windsor’s second round of ACHF funding this year. Of these, seventeen applicants – fifteen individuals and two organizations – will receive support for arts, culture and heritage projects in the community.
The funding requests totalled about $88,500. With $43,600 available in this round, the competition was high, and the jury had to make difficult decisions. The jury selected a strong mix of projects across genres including the visual and fine arts, performing arts, film, music, literary arts and storytelling, podcasts, and some important projects surrounding diversity, inclusivity, multiculturalism, heritage and the celebration of humanity in the city of Windsor.
Since the launch of this program in 2014:
· 677 applications have been submitted for consideration for funding
· 347 individual projects have received funding
· $714,000 has been awarded in project funding to local arts, culture and heritage initiatives benefitting our community.
“Windsor has a proud history of investment in our creative community,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens. “We own and maintain heritage sites and state-of-the-art culture spaces, invest in public art, and nurture strong partnerships that help create cultural spaces and experiences for the entire community. The ACHF program remains a strong tool to help support local creators, individuals and organizations in delivering projects that help grow and develop new audiences while fostering a greater appreciation for arts, culture and heritage in Windsor.”
The City extends congratulations to the following 2021 Round 2 recipients:
Eric Branget: $4,100. The Fantasy Fantasia Podcast. Funding to produce, edit, present and promote new episodes of a locally made podcast featuring local actors and storytellers.
Madeline Doornaert: $3,850. Music video. Funding for actors, video directing and development, cinematography, editing, and colourist fees for a music video featuring original music by a local musician.
Essex County Black Historical Research Society: $3,625. Twentieth Anniversary Celebration – Tower of Freedom Monument. Funding for production costs for filming at the monument celebration, artist fees, and more in connection with a documentary of the historic celebration.
Max Marshall: $3,500. Limited Edition 45rpm Record Store Day release. Funding for graphic design, specialty art sleeve printing, promotion and production costs for an original music album.
Gemma Eva and Maria Hausmann: $3,500. Gen-Z short film collaboration. Funding for artist fees, production design costs, and festival submission fees for a mentorship project resulting in production of an original short film.
Meta Makers Cooperative Inc.: $3,500. Windsor Community Make It Series. Funding for artist fees and production and fabrication costs for a beginners-friendly introduction to the arts workshop series.
Crissi Cochrane: $3,500. Crissi Cochrane 2022 EP. Funding for session musicians, production, engineering and manufacturing (short run) for an EP of original music by a local musician.
Bill Dileva: $3,000. The Giggle Mat. Funding for artist fees and production costs to create and present episodes of a locally made children’s YouTube variety show.
Stephen Romanow: $2,500. Ghost book paintings and illustrations. Funding to support supplies, materials and artist fees for creation of visual artworks to accompany production of a book.
John-Paul Bonadonna: $2,500. Leave Those Kids Alone extended play (EP) album recording. Funding to record a new original album, including drum studio time, mixing and mastering for a local youth band.
Brendan Scott Friel: $2,500. 3 Track EPs. Funding for recording costs associated with the creation of a new album of original music by a local musician.
Anna Zaidman: $2,000. 7 Songs for Kids and Families. Funding for artist fees, and costs for design, production, fabrication, installation, recording studio time and more for an original musical composition.
Nadja Pelkey: $1,500. Photo Flora. Funding for materials and equipment, printing costs and artist fees for a visual art and photography series.
Hugh Leal: $1,025. Hugh Leal’s Windsor LIVE Jazz Collection, 1981 to 2020. Funding for audio mixing, engineering, leveling, mastering, art design, and artist fees for an album highlighting the work of a local musician, and featuring the talents of several other area musicians.
Dan Savoie: $1,000. This Tuesday’s Child short film. Funding for artist fees and products costs to create a short film featuring local actors, with a local crew.
David Carovillano: $1,000. What Will Become of Us? Funding for artist fees, production costs, and editing for an original music composition by a one-man orchestra.
Demetre Kalmantis: $1,000. Inertia film. Funding for props, costumes, and other production costs for an original film with local actors and crew.
Of their collective experience working as part of the ACHF Jury for the 2021 funding rounds, the jurors said: “The experience as an ACHF juror is fulfilling… it is so encouraging to see so many artists and arts organizations continuing to pursue such wonderful projects… I would recommend this experience to anyone in the arts, culture and heritage sector, and I am so appreciative of the work done by City Administration that brings the dreams of these artists into our reality. Windsor is a much better city for it… Windsor is a mecca of creativity.”
The City extends thanks to the ACHF jury members who participated in the evaluation of the 2021 ACHF funding rounds. The jury consisted of the following:
- Vanessa Shields – returning juror; writer, performer, arts administrator, arts programmer, arts entrepreneur, teacher, and board member;
- Kevin Alexander – returning juror; musician, performer, arts critic, administrator, and community board member;
- Kristina Bradt – preparator with Art Gallery of Windsor, Arts Council Windsor & Region staffer, visual artist, arts educator, community artist, arts administrator, programmer, and community board member;
- David Burrows – theatre and performing artist, arts board member, and teacher; and
- Kaitlyn Karns – administrative and outreach coordinator (Arts Council Windsor & Region), arts educator, community artist, dance/movement artist, musician, theatre and performing artist, arts administrator, arts board member, and arts programmer.
The ACHF, approved by City Council, awards grants to individuals and cultural organizations to help stimulate creative and economic growth. Each project could be funded to a maximum of $5,000 in a given round.
Further details on the program guidelines and objectives, application process, eligibility requirements, success stories from previous recipients, and deadline dates for funding rounds are available online at www.ACHFWindsor.ca.
To learn more about arts, culture, and heritage services at the City of Windsor, visit www.CityWindsor.ca or call 311.
-30-
Media Contacts:
| Michelle Staadegaard Manager Culture & Events 519-253-2300 ext. 2726 | Jason Moore Senior Manager Communications & Customer Service (519) 551-9011 |
Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund (ACHF) Grant Program Background Information
The City of Windsor’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund (ACHF) invests the soul of our City by providing financial assistance to locally developed arts, culture and heritage projects that provide exciting, surprising and meaningful opportunities to strengthen our creative community. This funding initiative supports the City of Windsor’s priority to build a strong and stable creative community that contributes to a prosperous creative economy and to making Windsor an amazing place to live.
Program Objectives
- Promote innovation and support new, dynamic efforts in the creative community;
- Develop unique cultural resources to enhance the health and vitality of our communities and the quality of life for our people;
- Encourage participants in the creative community to stay and continue to create and work in the City of Windsor;
- Make arts, culture and heritage central to the lives of all our people;
- Increase public awareness and access to the arts, culture and heritage sectors;
- Celebrate diversity by recognizing our rich creative community; and
- Value creativity by promoting and supporting arts, culture and heritage.
Projects eligible for funding will benefit one or more cultural sectors; and will develop new alliances and creative, innovative approaches. Funding will be distributed over two evaluation periods. Projects must address one or more of the following key priorities:
· Increase Windsor’s attractiveness, affordability, and quality of life;
· Support the development of new audiences;
· Increase the supply of skilled cultural workers;
· Nurture creativity and imagination through arts, culture, and heritage projects;
· Encourage the inclusion of diverse cultural groups;
· Increase public access to the creative community.
Organizations and individuals are urged to apply online following the project guidelines on www.ACHFWindsor.ca.