Announcing the 2024 Endurance Grants!
Published: December 11, 2024
Categories: Featured | Grants & Fellowships
We are proud to announce that a total of $100,000 was directly invested in 40 Washington State artists through the third year of the Artist Trust Endurance Grants. Designed to meet Washington State artists’ emergency needs, the Endurance Grants are Artist Trust’s first emergency need-based grants beyond COVID-19 relief in many years. This funding was made possible through support from Artist Trust’s generous individual donors and Board of Trustees, as well as from CERF+ with support from the Mellon Foundation.
“These funds will be a lifeline, providing immediate relief from overwhelming medical bills and securing my art studio and housing. By stabilizing my current situation, I can focus on my art and upcoming exhibition without the constant stress of financial uncertainty. This support will allow me to focus on my upcoming solo exhibition and continue creating art that celebrates the BIPOC Queer community. With a foundation of stability, I can better prepare for future emergencies, building resilience and readiness.”
–Endurance Grant recipient, King County visual artist
The Artist Trust Endurance Grants are unrestricted emergency need-based grants of $2,500 to artists working in all disciplines across Washington State to assist with an unforeseen emergency, crisis, or catastrophic event.
Funding reached artists in 12 different counties across the state. 47% of recipients received funding for medical bills; 43% for rent, mortgage, or foreclosure; 8% for utility payments; and 2% for food insecurity. 80% of recipients identified with two or more of the following impacted communities: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or Native, LGBTQIA+, immunocompromised, with immigrant status, have or are living with a disability, residing outside King County, and/or low income.
“We are proud to support artists across the state through difficult times” shares Artist Trust Program Director Lydia Boss. “Even without the added burden of an emergency, our region is expensive for creatives, and we hope this grant gives Washington State artists the breathing room they need to focus on their practices.”
“Applying for the Endurance Grant has shown me how important it is to seek out nontraditional supports—to build a different sort of savings and emergency strategy than what I had before. Paying these bills before they go to collections will prevent additional fines, and will enable me to keep creating and advocating for arts with less financial strain adding to my physical stressors. Then I can begin working to build some savings for emergencies such as these, and looking for other resources that can help me navigate the financial challenges of this career change more proactively.”
–Endurance Grant recipient, Spokane County performing artist
2024 Endurance Grants Panelists
Dufon Smith, Clark County
Joy Wood, Spokane County
Maiah Merino, King County
All applications were reviewed for eligibility by Artist Trust staff and by a multidisciplinary panel of three artists from across Washington State. Panelists did not review applications for need or merit. All eligible applicants were put into a pool and selected by a randomized system created by Artist Trust.
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