August 19, 2025 Press Releases

ValleyCreates Announces New Cohort for Project Evolution Grants

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ ValleyCreates program is pleased to announce the names of sixteen local artists who will be awarded $80,000 in Project Evolution Grants (PEG). This marks the third cohort since PEG’s launch in 2022, each selected from a pool of past Capacity grantees. With this support, these artists will bring new projects to life and continue shaping the creative landscape.

“We’re excited to continue uplifting our past Capacity grantees, providing the support they need to move their projects into the next stages,” said Community Foundation Senior Program Officer Nicole Bourdon. “This cohort reflects the incredible range of artistry in our region, with projects spanning the areas of visual and fine arts, performing arts, folk and traditional arts, writing, music, and multidisciplinary work.”

PEG provides artists who currently live or have studio space in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties with project grant support totaling $5,000, cohort learning and coaching, and additional project-administration-oriented professional development to ensure that their projects take shape and evolve into their next stage.

“The PEG grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has given me resources to explore work at a larger scale and invest in materials and tools to bring my artistic vision to life,” said grantee adrian almquist, a Plainfield-based artist working in sculpture, ceramics, woven textiles, and mixed media. “I am exploring sculptural work using local wood, stone, fiber, and ceramic wood kilns, and these funds are being invested directly with local farms, sawyers, quarries, and businesses. ValleyCreates continues to nurture my confidence as an artist and connect me to a diverse network of artists across Western Mass, which is of great importance to me given the remote rural location where I live and work.” 

Filmmaker Nevline Nnaji of Florence stated, “This PEG grant has been a holistic source of support for me at this stage of my creative journey. As an Artist at the intersection of various marginalized communities, it’s often challenging for my out-of-the-box ideas and perspectives to be heard, much less fiscally supported. Not only has this grant allowed me to pay myself for my hard work, it supports me in creating a necessary project that would have been very difficult to carry on my own.” 

The 16 artists receiving Project Evolution Grants are:  

Sunny Allis, Westhampton
adrian almquist, Plainfield
Kim Chin-Gibbons, Amherst
Eva Fahey, Chicopee
Michelle Falcón Fontánez, Indian Orchard
Indë, Westhampton
Rachel Leader, Northampton
Trenda Loftin, Northampton
Karol Matuszak, Ashfield
Taylor Rose Mickens, Springfield
Nevline Nnaji, Florence
NAGO, Agawam
Malaika Ross, Chesterfield
Meegan Schreiber, Sunderland
LESN101, Springfield
Mydalis Vera, Springfield