Six distinguished Kentucky artists have been awarded Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council for demonstrating a high level of excellence and creativity in their literary arts careers.
The prestigious award, named in honor of Kentucky journalist Al Smith, recognizes professional artists who have reached a high level of achievement in their career. Since its beginning in 1983, the program has provided more than $2.5 million in funding to artists in the visual arts, literary arts, media arts, composing and choreography.
"The Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship award is considered a benchmark of excellence in the careers of the Commonwealth's artists," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "The artists who receive this award are of a high caliber, and we are happy to support them in the continuation of their work."
The artists receiving awards are:
Christian Moody, fiction, Danville
Mark Eric Schimmoeller, creative nonfiction, Frankfort
Diana Grisanti, playwriting, Louisville
Makalani Bandele, poetry, Louisville
Steve Moulds, playwriting, Louisville
Carrie Jerrell, poetry, Murray
Al Smith Fellowships are awarded in different categories each year on a rotating schedule. The next opportunity for literary artists to apply will be in 2016. Applications for the next round of funding in the fields of musical composition and visual arts will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2015.
To view guidelines or to apply online, visit: http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/ASF.htm, or contact Tamara Coffey at Tamara.Coffey@ky.gov or 502-564-8110, ext. 479.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Story provided by The Kentucky Arts Council.
