Regional Arts Commission to Fund Area Artists

Based on the results of Artists Count, the first comprehensive survey of regional artists and creatives, the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) will begin funding individual artists in 2013.

 Each year, ten St. Louis artists will each be awarded a $20,000 Fellowship, which is a financial investment in the careers of the selected artists and in the cultural vibrancy of the region.

Also, artists will be awarded from $500 to $3,000 to fund special equipment and materials, rental space, arts-related travel, conference fees and other resources.

The commitment to support artists is inherent in RAC’s vision to transform St. Louis into a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community through elevating the vitality, value and visibility of the arts. 

“This is a sea change for RAC because we only have funded nonprofit organizations and consortiums since we were created in 1985,” said Jill McGuire, executive director of RAC. “This decision is in step with our visionary plan to support an environment in which artists are valued and thriving as part of a robust creative community,”

More than 3,000 artists and creatives completed the survey from April through July, making it one of the largest research studies of its kind in the United States Promoted widely to diverse audiences through traditional and social media, participants included full-time and part-time painters, writers, dancers, poets, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, graphic designers, actors, singers, composers, architects, performance artists, crafters, arts educators, videographers and others who self-identified as creatives.

The Kresge Foundation funded the survey which was conducted and analyzed by William Cleveland, principal of the Center for the Study of Art and Community, along with his research associate Dr. Patricia Shifferd.

According to Cleveland, “RAC’s decision to fund artists establishes the organization as a leader among local arts agencies nationally. They are committed to developing a sustainable, creative community.” 

The findings of the survey provided RAC with a wider understanding of the creative ecosystems in St. Louis, including what artists need to be successful. As a result, RAC has created the Investment in Artists Initiative that provides direct support to artists so they can advance their careers and complete creative projects.

For complete information about these opportunities and to download a copy of the artists Count summary and full report, visit www.artistscount.com.