now art grants (spreading the word about a new art grant)

conceptual artist damali ayo, creator of rent-a-negro.com, author of How to Rent a Negro, and nationally touring speaker announces the creation of Now Art Grants.

Artists creating work that engages dialogue about current social issues will receive grant funds (minimum $500), three months mentorship by damali ayo, a second mentor who has specific experience in the project field, and access to ayo's mailing list of over 3000 people.

To be chosen to receive a Now Art Grant, an artist/project must:

· Take place outside of a gallery or limited-access space.

· Engage a wide audience in a dialogue about a current social issue

· Show ability to fully accomplish the proposed project

Artists should send their project ideas and a short bio to nowart@damaliayo.com

Grants will be made on a rolling basis as funds become available. All artists who sign up on ayo's "now artists" mailing list will receive regular information about various grants and support for artists engaged in social change.

Now Art Grants apply the philosophy of microfinance to generate art for social change. Now Art Grants combine the small donations of many individuals and make these available to artists whose work returns the support to those individuals by creating art that catalyzes social change. These artists often work with no pay and slim budgets because the activist nature of their work is often dismissed as "not fine art" or because art remains devalued as a viable career choice by society.

Members of the damali ayo and now art mailing lists donate any amount they choose to the grant pool. This money is combined and granted to artists who show their commitment to social change through their work. The artist will be rigorously researched by the grantor but artists will not be required to spend critical art time writing extensive applications or budgets. Projects can be created specifically for this grant money or can already be in process. Money can be used for any aspect of the project including artist fees. Mentoring helps to assure the success of the project.

Make a donation, ask a question, join the mailing list and apply by contacting nowart@damaliayo.com.

now art
Now Art holds that the primary role and responsibility of art is to mirror the dilemmas of society to its citizens, offering a catalyst for change and development; evolves as society evolves; values the artist's use of a wide range of media; integrates contemporary and emerging technologies; prizes the power of individuals to effect change, discarding divisions between personal and political; honors and engages the work of its predecessors, recognizing that art builds upon art.

  ¶ 9:12 PM