For Immediate Release
Contact: Cassandra Stalzer, 907-334-0520

Anchorage, Alaska – Applications for Rasmuson Foundation’s annual Individual Artist Awards grants program will be accepted starting January 1, 2016. These awards go directly to artists to support activities that advance creativity.

Individual Artist Awards provide support for Alaska artists in 10 disciplines, at all stages of their careers and creative development.

Awards are made in three categories – Project awards, Fellowships and the Distinguished Artist award. Project grants ($7,500) are for artists with short-term project needs. Fellowships ($18,000) are provided to mid-career and mature artists to advance their careers. The Distinguished Artist award ($40,000) recognizes a single artist for creative excellence and superior accomplishments. Artists may apply for only one type of award. Anyone may nominate a candidate for the Distinguished Artist Award.

“These awards allow Alaska artists to pursue their individual passions and artistic growth,” said Jeff Baird, program officer for Rasmuson Foundation. “They are intended to advance and sustain artists in their own practice and to inspire creativity throughout Alaska.”

In 2015, Rasmuson Foundation awarded $389,500 to 36 artists statewide. Since 2004, the Individual Artist Awards program has awarded 372 grants, of $3.1 million, directly to Alaska artists.

Project awards may be in any of the 10 artistic disciplines: choreography, crafts, folk and traditional arts, literary arts/scriptworks, media arts, multidiscipline/new genre, music composition, performance art, presentation/interpretation, and visual arts.

Fellowship awards rotate annually. For 2016, Fellowships will be awarded only in media arts, multidiscipline/new genre, music composition, presentation/interpretation, and visual arts.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online and may do so through the Rasmuson Foundation website by 11:59 p.m., March 1. If a paper application is required you must call the Foundation to request it. Applications sent by mail must be postmarked by March 1, 2016. Applications delivered to the office must be received by 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Eligible applicants will have lived in Alaska at least two years, not won an Individual Artist Award in the past three years and be 18 years or older.

Applicants may call (907) 297-2700 or (877) 366-2700 (toll free in Alaska) for additional information.

About the Foundation
Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband, “E.A.” Rasmuson. Through grantmaking and initiatives, the Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.

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