Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Announces Second Round of Life Grant Awardees

$70,000 Awarded to Artists and Nonprofits

Pittsburgh - July 25, 2018 - Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) is pleased to announce the second round of creative professionals to receive a Lift Grant, GPAC’s newest grant program. $70,000 was awarded to four grantees (below) for artistic endeavors taking place through April 30, 2019. Of the 72 applicants during this round of grants, 16 advanced to the second round of grant proposal reviews, with the final four project proposals selected to receive funding. The project-specific funding supports the production and presentation of the arts throughout the 10-county region, lifting both the careers of working artists and the cultural offerings in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Lift Grants are awarded twice a year, with application deadlines in Fall and Spring. More information about the Lift Grant may be found here.

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council CEO Mitch Swain enthuses: "We're thrilled to continue funding for artists, helping them advance their art practice and also showcase new, thought-provoking creative projects in our region." Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is one of the few organizations in Pennsylvania that offer grants directly to artists and arts collectives for projects intended to directly lift and advance creative practice. Further, the Lift Grant review process, in addition to a written application and work samples, includes dialogue and interviews with a diverse grant review panel comprised of working artists. The Lift Grant was created through generous funding from the Hillman Foundation.

Lift Grant July Awardees

• Max Gonzales and Jerome Charles: $12,500 to curate and document The Glow Up, a visual art exhibit featuring the work of “outside artists” of color at the Ace Hotel in 2019
• Idrissou Mora-Kpai: $20,000 to complete the documentary film, America Street.
• Jose Muniain and Brian Broome: $20,000 to create the film GARBAGE: Race Coexistence Vulnerability.
• Jimmy Riordan and Nina Friedman: $17,500 to select four local artists and to collaborate with the artists to create four Risograph printed books documenting their work.