The Satellite Fund: Emergency Relief Grants

JOIN US in celebrating the following artists selected through The Satellite Fund Emergency Relief program, round two. Artists are each awarded $500, $750, or $1,000 in unrestricted funds to use as disaster relief aid and a complimentary one-year SPACES Season Pass Membership. We applaud these and all artists who contribute to the vibrant Northeast Ohio community.

Round Two Awardees:

Ephraim Abdullah, Asia Armour, Kate Atherton, Karen Beckwith, David Biro, April Bleakney, John Carlson, Kristen Cliffel, Dan Corrigan, Kelly Cree, Laura D’Alessandra, Matthew Danko, Abigail DeWitt, Dylan Eddy, Malaz Elgemiabby, Amber Esner, Grace Frank, James Garnette Jr., Gwendolyn Garth, Aja Grant, Valerie Grossman, Alex Heard, Nina Huryn, Ryan Jaenke, Annette James, Cierra King, Stephanie Kluk, Kyle Knutson, Kristina Kuhn, Charlie Malta, Elmi Mata, Rustin McCann, Michael McFarland, Katie Mongoven, Angela Novak, Michael Oatman, Dana Oldfather, Denyce Renee, Ashley Rowell, Guillermo Sanchez, Julie Schenkelberg, Samantha Sneider, Amanda Specht, Jacci Sturgeon, Corah Szerenyi, Omid Tavakoli, Erykah Townsend, Devon Turchan, Douglas Utter, Taraka Walker, Clarissa White, Ramat Wiley, Taijah Williams, Cullen Williams-Freeman, Megan Young, and those who wish to remain anonymous.

Awarded Artist Demographics

• 66% Female; 27% Male; 7% Non-Binary or Gender Non-Conforming
• 54% White and/or Western European; 30% Black/African American; 16% Hispanic and/or Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American, or a race/ethnicity not listed here
• 18% Reported having a serious underlying health condition
• Working in mediums including: illustration, graphic design, textiles, printing, drawing, ceramics, papermaking, book arts, poetry, performance, glass, metalwork, and curation

We compiled the above aggregate demographic data based on a voluntary survey and not all those awarded chose to respond. There were 77 applications to the fund. All were viewed and scored by three jurors. The top scoring exceeded the amount of awards available and from there, final selections were made by lottery.

Round One Awardees:

April Arotin, Samantha Bias, Stephen Bivens, Daniel I. Bortz, Sequoia Bostick, Justin Brennan, Ray Caspio, Bruce Checefsky, Susan Danko, Gina DeSantis, Eileen Dorsey, Shelly Duncan, Dale Goode, Timothy Herron, Lynnea Holland-Weiss, Thomas Hudson, Lauren Herzak-Bauman, Aimee Lee, Rickey Lewis, Janet Macoska, DaShaunae Marisa, McKenzie Merriman, Haley Himiko Hudson Morris, Ephraim Nehemiah, Amanda Nyx, Claudio Orso-Giacone, Garth Phillips, Unity Powell, Arabella Proffer, Christopher Richards, Eric Rippert, September Shy, Chaundrea Simmons, Darius Steward, Mark Sudduth, Dru Thompson, Danielle Tilk, Alicia Vasquez, Antwoine Washington, Gina Washington, McKinley Wiley, Laura Wimbels, Stephen Yusko, Gadi Zamir, Rebekah Wilhelm and those who wish to remain Anonymous

Awarded Artist Demographics

• 45% Female; 40% Male; 12% Non-Binary or Gender Non-Conforming
• 47% White and/or Western European; 42% Black/African American; 6% Hispanic and/or Latinx; 5% Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American, or a race/ethnicity not listed here
• 22% Reported having a serious underlying health condition
• Working in mediums including: painting, photography, sculpture, film/video, performance, installation, writing, sound art, illustration, graphic design, textiles, printing, drawing, ceramics, papermaking, book arts, glass, metalwork, and curation

We compiled the above aggregate demographic data based on a voluntary survey and not all those awarded chose to respond. There were 92 applications to the fund. All were viewed and scored by three jurors. The top scoring exceeded the amount of awards available and from there, final selections were made by lottery. Any applicant who was not awarded may be eligible to apply in the future.

ABOUT THE EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM

SPACES temporarily refocused The Satellite Fund in order to better serve artists affected by the current pandemic and economic crisis this year. Founded in 2019, The Satellite Fund is administered by SPACES through a Regional Regranting Program of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Warhol Foundation authorized its sixteen re-granting partners, including SPACES, to re-allocate our $100,000 annual grants to create and administer COVID-19 emergency relief funds in our communities. In May, we awarded $60,000 in Emergency Relief Grants to 60 local artists following a first round of applications and selection by an independent jury of distinguished arts professionals.

SPACES continued to administer Emergency Relief Grants with additional support through the Cleveland Foundation, Takeyama Fund at the Cleveland Foundation, and through an individual gift by Susan E. Murray and Donald E. Harvey. In the second round of granting, $55,250 is being distributed among 66 Cuyahoga County artists.

By the numbers:

• In 2020, SPACES administered $115,250 in Emergency Relief Grants to local artists.

• A total of 126 Cuyahoga County artists received Emergency Relief Grants.

• Of those awarded from both rounds, over 20% reported risk factors including underlying health conditions.

Thanks to THE SATELLITE FUND Emergency Relief Grant program supporters:

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

Cleveland Foundation

Takeyama Fund at the Cleveland Foundation

Susan E. Murray & Donald E. Harvey