Don’t Let My Sad Expression Give You the Wrong Impression: The Tiers of a Grantmaker

Monday, October 7, 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Organized by Esther Grimm, Executive Director, 3Arts.

Presented by Sean Elwood, Director, Programs and Initiatives, Creative Capital Foundation; Caitlin Strokosch, Executive Director, Alliance of Artists Communities; and Paul Tyler, Grants Director, Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City.

Adelheid Mers, an artist who blends event-specific social practice with idiosyncratic mapping of the ephemera of cultural conversations, has been commissioned by 3Arts to create a nuanced artwork based on anonymous interviews with artists about the experience of applying for and not receiving awards or grants. Her work will serve as the muse for this interactive, idea-generating session. The session begins with short, starter presentations by three arts leaders on the subject of how their organizations break down the barriers between so-called “winners” and “losers” and what they do to support artists who do not receive the ultimate recognition. Breakout groups led by the presenters will continue the conversation and dream up new ideas and perspectives on the subject.