2009 VISUAL ART GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
THE REMA HORT MANN FOUNDATION AWARDS $80,000 IN GRANTS TO 8 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS IN
New York City
Now in its 14th year, an innovative grant program dedicated to supporting emerging visual artists. New York (October 20, 2009) —
The Rema Hort Mann Foundation is pleased to announce the 2009 visual art grant award winners, each of whom will receive a $10,000 unrestricted grant. Grant recipients this year come from a broad range of work and styles that includes photography, film/video and installation art. The recipients are Jennifer Cohen, Alexander Fleming, Alice O'Malley, Matt Sheridan Smith, Alexandre Singh, Rashaad Newsome, Mary Reid Kelley, and Rona Yefman.
Visual art grant recipients are nominated by a committee comprised of noted professors, critics, museum professionals, artists, curators, and former grantees. A separate independent selection committee determined the grantees. The selection committee members this year were Lauren Cornell (rhizome.org), Susan Hort (collector), Stefan Kelmar (Artists Space), Tina Kukielski (Whitney Museum), and Matthew Lyons (The Kitchen).
"Identifying talented emerging artists and awarding them unrestricted money is one of the best ways to invest in their careers," Foundation Director Bao said. "It's also a gift to society because if we don't continue to fund individual artists, there won't be art."
Bao said the Foundation will turn 15 next year and plans are underway for a big celebration. "A nonprofit thrives on the commitments and contributions of its audience so we want to express our gratitude, highlight our work through the two grant programs and throw an amazing bash. If we can't get down with artists, these are desperate times indeed."
To view the 2009 grantees, their works and artist statements, click the "e-gallery" at www.rhmfoundation.org. An event scheduled on January 28, 2010 will be held at Jack Shainman Gallery to present the 8 grantees to the public. www.rhmfoundation.org for details and to sign up for the email list.