DETROIT — Seventeen metro Detroit artists and one music collective have been awarded Kresge Artist Fellowships for 2014. Each of the 18 fellowships, for artists working in dance/music and a new theater/film category, includes an unrestricted prize of $25,000.
The Kresge Artist Fellowships are funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by the Kresge Arts in Detroit program of the College for Creative Studies. The fellowships program represents the foundation’s desire to advance the artistic careers of Detroit artists living and working in its hometown, as well as to elevate the profile of the area’s artistic community.
“Artists challenge us,” says Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation. “They move us to reflect on all dimensions of community life. They inspire us. As we look to a future beyond the city’s bankruptcy, artists provide an indispensable well-spring of insight and creativity from which our community can draw inspiration and hope. This year’s Kresge Artist Fellows exemplify these traits. It is an honor to shine a light on them.”
The 2014 Kresge Artist Fellowship recipients are as follows:
- Juan Atkins – electronic musician
- Ben Hall – sound and interdisciplinary artist
- Jeedo, aka Waajeed – composer, producer, and arranger
- Kisma Jordan – classical vocalist
- Gayelynn McKinney – composer, drummer, and bandleader
- Stephen Nawara – composer, guitarist, bassist, and vocalist
- New Music Detroit – new music collective
- Tracy Halloran Pearson – choreographer
- Britney Stoney – singer/songwriter
- Diane Cheklich – screenwriter and film director
- Tony D’Annunzio – documentary film director
- Donavan Glover – music video and film director
- Dream Hampton – director and writer
- Leon Johnson – film/theatre director and interdisciplinary artist
- Daniel Land – screenwriter and film director
- Rola Nashef – screenwriter and film director
- Jasmine Rivera – screenwriter and film director
- Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe – playwright
Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded $3 million to metro Detroit artists. In addition to the unrestricted $25,000 award, fellows also receive professional practice opportunities executed by ArtServe Michigan. The professional practice series opens with an intensive professional development retreat presented by New York-based artist service organization Creative Capital.
