2007 VISUAL ART GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
THE REMA HORT MANN FOUNDATION AWARDS $80,000 IN GRANTS TO 8 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS IN NYC
Now in its 12th year, an innovative grant program dedicated to supporting emerging visual artists.
New York (October 24, 2007) -The Rema Hort Mann Foundation is pleased to announce the 2007 visual art grant award winners, each of whom will receive a $10,000 grant. Grant recipients this year come from a broad range of work and styles that includes painting, film/video and installation art.
The recipients are Brian Clifton, Martha Colburn, Graham Durward , Leslie Hewitt, Demetrius Oliver, Aki Sasamoto, Josh Shaddock and Mickalene Thomas.
Visual artist grant recipients are nominated by a committee comprised of noted scholars, critics, museum professionals, artists and former grantees. A separate independent selection committee determined the grantees. The selection committee members this year were Whitney Museum curator Carter Foster, art critic Jerry Saltz, White Columns curator Amie Scally, collector Susan Hort and Drawing Center curator Joao Ribas.
"The program is extremely competitive because we ask very qualified professionals to nominate individual artists who demonstrate great potential," Foundation director Quang Bao said. "We had 115 nominations but limited funds. I think there were other applicants the committee wanted to single out but we are pretty impressed and happy about the final eight grantees. And given our track record with prior winners, I think you'll be hearing a lot about these artists over the next few years."
The Foundation will also be launching in 2008 a new $8,000 special projects fund for its current grantees, as part of its plan to expand the impact of the organization's work. "Prior grantees and nominees told us that they wanted ways to connect with other artists and form a community that wasn't focused on the art market," Bao said. "The fund is not for exhibitions or catalog production but for whatever activities and events our eight grantees want to do."
To view the 2007 grantees, their works and artist statements, click the "e-gallery" at the Foundation's new website at www.rhmfoundation.org. An art crawl and cocktail party to present the grantees to the Foundation's audience will be held on Saturday, November 3 at 2 pm. Click "events" on the homepage for information about OUTBACK: The 12th Annual Chelsea Art Crawl.
***
The Rema Hort Mann Foundation was established in 1995 in loving memory of Rema Hort Man who passed away from cancer at the young age of 30. In her life, she was passionate about supporting young artists and later to individuals she met while undergoing treatment. The Foundation has evolved into a dynamic and effective nonprofit, providing grants to emerging artists and also direct support to individuals suffering from cancer. The Foundation offers its funding, by nomination only, to promising artists who demonstrate an ability and commitment to making substantial contributions to the arts, but require financial support to do so. It also provides funds to cancer patients to help them strengthen their emotional and familial support while they are undergoing treatment.
The Rema Hort Man Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing direct support to artists and cancer patients through grants to individuals. To learn more about our program and activities, please visit www.rhmfoundation.org or telephone 212-966-8444.