Grants for Individuals & Collectives: Stream 1 Fall 2024

Artists and their work are the foundation of our arts community. Working as individuals or collectives, artists pursue work that develops their practice, advances creative thought, contributes to an art form and provides our community with a reflection of itself. Through the three distinct streams of the Individuals & Collectives program the EAC supports a wide range of art forms and practices, fostering experimentation, professional development, creative collaboration and public presentation. 

Stream 1: Exploration & Experimentation of the Individuals & Collectives program supports an individual artist to work on creation, experimentation, or research activities. Grant amounts are fixed at $5,000 to support subsistence and any additional costs to the individual while they take the time to pursue artistic work. 

Forty-four (44) applications were recommended for Stream 1 funding for a total of $220,000.

Ameley will focus on creating new drafts of Black poetic rants and also expanding her piece of Burden of Blackness. The goal is to bring attention to the tensions living in the bodies of Black immigrants. 

Alison Hughes will write the first draft of a novel centering around the fictional cast of a popular Jasper-based ​‘80s children’s show who reunite for a nation-wide competition. 

Alyson Davies will create a new series of large-scale paintings exploring the figure in nature amid the climate crisis, blending contemporary themes with historical art references. 

Asal Andarzipour will conclude her current series of oil paintings exploring themes of life and death, and the body-psyche relations. 

Audrey Boccara / The Aerial Ballerina will expand her existing aerial ballet work, White Swan, into a longer piece. 

Aynaz Raoufian will collaborate with 5 – 10 individuals affected by cancer through a series of workshops to create wearable art that embodies their experiences, fostering shared understanding and visibility of the disease’s emotional burden. 

Beth Graham will write a rehearsal-ready draft of a new play, Isadora Upside Down, inspired by the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Daniel Foreman will research and write a feature length film script featuring a romance between two young Indigenous people from different socioeconomic worlds. 

Darren Lebeuf will establish Collaborative Story Walls as a sustainable artistic service, offering tailor-made interactive experiences in diverse community spaces, providing an opportunity for people of all ages to contribute to these interactive artworks. 

David Morgan will research and develop a film about FAVA (Film and Video Arts Society) and its significant impact on independent filmmakers and the media arts community in Northern Alberta. 

Ereni will explore Mariachi rhythms on the classical guitar, focusing on boleros, polkas, and rancheras while learning traditional songs and classical guitar technique. 

Gail Sidonie Šobat will create a new work of fiction in part based on the historical Edmonton Grads basketball team and the experiences of young immigrant women new to the city. 

Greg Mulyk will research the creation of new custom musical instruments and the augmentation of traditional instruments to explore to develop new sonic palettes as a sound designer and music composer. 

Jamie McRae will continue experimentation in the world of analog video glitch art. 

Jeannine Naboye Kroening will conduct research and cultural exploration to create a performance piece inspired by her mother’s journey as a caregiver in Canada. 

Jeff Stuart will write and demo a set of songs that explore the impacts of war and migration as reflected though the lens of his family’s history. 

Jia Jia Yong will research and develop arrangements of classical Chinese guqin pieces for the harp. 

Joelle Graziella will enhance her artistic process by delving deeply into advanced techniques such as waxing, silversmithing, goldsmithing, and gem setting, infusing her creations with the rich cultural narratives of Akan heritage. 

Juwayriya will create a collection of 10 paintings to illustrate the influence of African Canadian arts from the 17^th century to present day on Alberta’s arts sector. 

Karalee Morrison will create a painted banner with the word ​“believe” spelled out in flowers with twined dragons, bordered by handprints from participants at the Elizabeth Fry Society, in celebration of their achievements and hopes for the future. 

Kelly Wolfert will develop a documentary feature film titled JOEY, detailing the life story of beloved Edmontonian Joey Moss. 

Ksenzo will explore new possibilities in her figurative drawing practice by working closely with models and dancers, capturing their dynamic gestural and rhythmic movement in fresh and experimental ways. 

Leila Zolfalipour will explore multicultural identity and resilience by integrating Canadian mud and found materials into encaustic paintings and wood sculptures, blending her Persian heritage with Canadian landscapes, symbolizing humanity’s connection to nature. 

Liam Monaghan will research Arthur Erickson and Francisco Kripacz, study verbatim/​documentary playwriting methods, and then apply that preparatory work into the first draft of a new play. 

Little Yellow Buffalo will create a lingerie set using traditional materials and beadwork, emphasizing self-empowerment and personal expression.

M.L. Martin will work on Colour Field, a new collection of ekphrastic poems with a particular emphasis on female identifying and queer artists.

Meaghan Archer will develop a collection of essays exploring the literary works of female writers in relation to her own experience as a woman.

Meegan Sweet will continue to develop and explore their existing production The S.P.O.T.T. They plan to create additional material and explore audience impact and themes within the script and performance for future productions.

Mia Riley will research Chinese funerary urns, including imagery symbolism and ceramic production techniques to support her ongoing ceramic practice, weaving together her own lived experience to these ancient works.

Michael Watt will expand their one act play Arthur & Titi into a full length play that explores puppetry, queerness, and the humour of having to navigate interpersonal conflicts.

Mike Shiplack will complete the first draft of a novel set in early 20^th Century Ukraine, focusing on a family with roots in Ukraine’s Kozak class and Russia’s feudal past.

NATTY FACE will challenge and expand her current ceramics practice from functional forms to conceptual and sculptural pieces.

Paul Morgan Donald will develop a workshop that explores music for improv, accessible to improvisers and musicians with all levels of experience.

Renee Hart will research and document her autistic sensory experiences and perspectives to form the foundation for future creative exploration, while engaging with professionals and the community to incorporate diverse autistic insights.

Robin Good will create and experiment with multimedia artwork, exploring themes of personal trauma and growth.

Ruth Alexander will research and develop the first draft of a new play with music.

Sarah Emslie, in collaboration with and consultation with Even Gilchrist, will experiment with the integration of large-scale puppetry into their stilt walking practice with the long-term intention of theatrical application.

Scott Portingale will research the virtual production process as it relates to stop-motion animation and in studio time-lapse photography.

Seka Rose​’s project Cloud Couture will explore various textiles to create prototypes for textile art inspired by clouds that can be used in theatrical performances.

Shawn Pinchbeck will explore new composition and spatial sound diffusion techniques to create a new immersive 15-minute soundscape composition.

Sumaiya Matin will complete a rough draft of a young adult novel about two sixteen-year-old Bengali girls who travel to Bengal to learn more about their family histories.

Tzadeka will further develop ​“Maiden Voyage”, a performance piece about teenage vulnerability, survival, and the journey back from shame.

Zahra Kheirieh will deepen and expand her practice as an expressionist painter by exploring the interaction of oil and acrylic on surfaces such as wood, fabric, and metal, pushing the boundaries of her current work.

Zeina Sleiman will research the journalistic profession and life in the Gulf region to write the first draft of novel.

Continue reading about the recipients of the fall 2024 Individual & Collectives program on the blog. Learn about the recipients of Stream 2 funding here and Stream 3 funding here.

Interested in applying for the Winter 2025 Individuals & Collectives grant? The next deadline is February 18, 2025 at 11:59 AM (noon). Applicants are invited to join the Edmonton Arts Council for interactive Q&A sessions on January 29 and February 5 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Prince of Wales Armouries (10440 108 Avenue). These session will focus on addressing eligibility, guidelines, and the online application process in a group discussion format. Learn more about the information sessions here.