Braxton Citizens' News, Community

Braxton artist receives Pandemic Relief Mini-Grant

Tamarack Foundation for the Arts (TFA) has announced the first round of recipients of the Pandemic Relief Mini-grants. TFA awarded a total of $67,500 in mini-grants to six individual artists, including one from Braxton County, and three non-profit organizations. Funds will be used to sustain, create and restore pandemic-impacted arts-related jobs and arts programming in Southern WV.

Stella Gregory of Sutton operates Athena’s Stained Glass On-line Classes: Gregory, a stained glass artist and instructor, will use funds to create educational videos, and take an entrepreneurial workshop with The WV Hive Network as she prepares to create income during post-teaching retirement years.

Other Pandemic Relief Mini-grant recipients and projects include: Jes Reger of Wheeling, Beginners Nature in Watercolor Traveling Workshop: Dana Evans of Verdunville, Shawnee Island Park Murals: Gary Bowling from Bluefield, The Circus, Circus Experience and Steampunk World: Amy McLaughlin, Charleston, New River Gorge Creative Community-in-Residence: Psychoflauge located in Cowen, Introduction to Paper-quilt and Video Collage: Thomas Jude from Delbarton, Highwall Music Festival:  Step By Step, Charleston/Harts, Elaine Purkey Musical Heritage Series: Love Hope Center for the Arts, Fayetteville: They will use funds for operating support.

TFA invites communities to follow and support the progress of the sub-awardees’ projects and programming. Contact information for sub-awardees is available upon request. Contact Kandi Workman at [email protected].

The Pandemic Relief Mini-grant is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan funds. In total, TFA will disperse $210,000 over two years in the form of 28 mini-grants that will impact 14 Southern WV counties, serving Braxton, Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha (selected areas only), Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Wayne, Webster and Wyoming.

TFA is currently reviewing Round 2 applications and seeking applications for Round 3. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Oct 31 or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Access the mini-grant application at tamarackfoundation.org/grants/.

Learn more about Tamarack Foundation for the Arts at tamarackfoundation.org/.