September 30, 2024 Press Releases

ValleyCreates announces 20 artists selected for 6th cohort, launches new fund to sustain program long-term

Community Foundation’s ValleyCreates program has selected 20 talented artist grantees for its sixth capacity grants program cohort. Collectively, the artists will receive $50,000 in direct funding as part of ValleyCreates’ commitment to provide capacity-building and sustainability for artists who live or have studio space in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. This dynamic group, representative of the region’s vibrant arts community, will not only benefit from financial support, but also from business and career-building coaching and workshops, personal financial literacy resources, and artist community-building opportunities.

“This cohort represents a vibrant diversity of disciplines, geographies, and cultural backgrounds, showcasing the rich abundance and depth of the arts community in Western Massachusetts,” said Nicole Bourdon, Senior Program Officer for ValleyCreates. “From folk traditions and music to photography, media, fiber arts, and fashion, their work spans a wide array of creative expressions. We are honored to support these artists as they continue to inspire, challenge, and enrich our cultural landscape.”

This announcement comes at the helm of another development. On September 18, the Foundation announced the launch of the ValleyCreates Arts and Creativity Fund, aimed at supporting the next phase of its arts program. This Fund will ensure that ValleyCreates can continue to offer grant and capacity-building support to local artists and arts organizations for years to come. This new phase will seek to raise $5 million for the program’s endowment over the next two years. The Foundation is seeking partnerships with businesses and individuals who value a more equitable and vibrant arts and creativity ecosystem for all people living and working in the 3-county region it serves.

“Over the last several years, we’ve heard from many of the artists themselves that ValleyCreates has had a profound impact on their ability to work as artists in the Valley during some of the most challenging days our economy has seen,” said Megan Burke, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “By launching the ValleyCreates Arts and Creativity Fund, we’re making sure that we can continue to provide the necessary resources to support the artistic talent in the Valley and sustain the creative energy that is so vital to our community. It’s more than just supporting artists and arts organizations; it’s about investing in the future of our arts economy as a whole.”

To make a gift to the ValleyCreates Arts and Creativity Fund in support of this important effort, donors are invited to visit www.communityfoundations.org.

The 20 artists selected as grantees for the ValleyCreates Capacity Grant Program are:

Gabriela Alcantara Pohls, Holyoke
Adrien Almquist, Plainfield
India Anderson, Springfield
Deja Carr, Amherst
Kim Chin-Gibbons, Amherst
Tai Ester, Springfield
Kaleighia Green, Chicopee
Kahli Hernandez, Springfield
Rachel Leader, Northampton
Armene Margosian, Greenfield
Karol Matuszak, Plainfield
Emily Munsell, Agawam
Nevline Nnaji, Florence
Brenda Roswess, Springfield
M Rudder, Florence
Destiny Santiago, Northampton
Akilah Scharff-Teoh, Greenfield
Denise Steward, Springfield
Charles Thompson, Colrain
Q.M. Zhang, Amherst