A panel of peers in the arts community selected 10 local artists and creative businesses to be awardees of an Arts Alive minigrant. This year, 33 total applicants sent artist bios and descriptions of their project for review. Selected projects received funding to either expand the artist’s or business’ professional abilities or increase the amount of people they reach with arts experiences.

“We’re really delighted that the minigrants program can open the doors for folks to pursue their dreams and reach their community,” says Jennifer Paone, Arts Alive Board Co-Chair

We raised enough to make at least 8 minigrants to artists this year!

Arts Alive! announces the seven recipients of its first ever mini-grants program. Announced at the end of August, the mini-grants program was Arts Alive!’s attempt to connect with and learn more about the individual artists across the Monadnock region. The result of the application process, was almost 30 project proposals of community arts initiatives, creative independent projects, and ideas to invest in creative businesses. In November, a jury met to determine which of the almost 30 projects that applied would receive funding. The following projects were selected to receive a modest amount of funding to support projects and programs that increase access to the arts across the Monadnock region.

From September 21-25 Machina Kitchen & Art Bar will be donating all the profits made on potstickers to fund Arts Alive!’s new mini-grants program - a way to give artists an extra boost to get their project off the ground.

As many of us were isolated during the pandemic, especially in its early days, artist/illustrator/teacher Robert Seaman, 88, was especially so. During a lockdown period at the assisted living facility he calls home, he desperately needed a creative outlet and turned to his life-long passion–drawing—to help buoy him in dark times. He began creating a doodle a day. These Daily Doodles turned his activity into a way to give back.

We’re proud to share the story of Robert Seaman, in his own words.

Arts Alive! is offering $50-$250 mini-grants to artists and creative businesses in the Monadnock region. Applications are open from September 1-October 15, 2021. Grants will be awarded to projects that further either the artist or creative business - expanding their professional abilities or increasing how many people they can reach with arts experiences.