STANDING O: Arts grants for borough artists

See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

By Joanna DelBuono

Brooklyn Daily

DUMBO

Thanks to the generosity of the Brooklyn Arts Council, there are a lot of happy artists out there. The philanthropic giant awarded more than $350,000 dollars in arts grants to individuals and organizations that have made our borough a brighter, happier, and more artsy place to live, work, and play. The grants foster the professional growth of artists and arts groups, and ensure that the arts are engaging the public in new and interesting ways.

“We have a particularly strong group of traditional artists from a variety of nationalities, including Haitian, Scandinavian, Italian, Jewish, Russian, Chinese, Arab and Mexican, who received grants, as well as some wonderfully experimental music and theater work,” said B.A.C. grants director Ethany Uttech.

Tipping off the tiara for the gala night — along with Brooklyn’s biggest booster Borough President Markowitz — were performances selected from grant recipients, including Petal War from the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, the Singing Winds with Hanifa Tores, Grace Drums, Bayou n’ Brooklyn with Catahoula Cajun Band, the Magic at Coney Island Magicians, and Iviva Olenick.

Budding performers also received a financial salute.

“Thanks to our B.A.C. grant, the youth actors, writers, and performers of Star Lab will get another taste of what it’s like to be a member of a professional theater company,” said spokesperson Devlin Goldberg. “We (the directors) are very grateful, but nothing beats the excitement of the kids hearing the great news!”

Art-smart Standing O says, “Bravissimo!” to the lucky recipients.

Brooklyn Arts Council, [55 Washington St. at Water Street in DUMBO, (718) 625–0080].

Comment on this story.