Past
Grantees

The DULUTH ART INSTITUTE, Duluth, Minnesota, received $15,000 in support of the participation of emerging artists in the Exhibition Program. Established in 1896, the Institute is an exhibiting organization, a school offering a wide array of classes, and a professional association for artists. The vast majority of the exhibitions feature artists who live and work in the Duluth metropolitan area and the rural areas surrounding it. The Institute mounts juried shows such as the Members' Show, the Arrowhead Biennial and the annual summer exhibition. It curates shows specifically aimed toward emerging artists, in solo and small group formats. There are also thematic exhibitions drawing heavily upon artists from the region.

Directors authorized a two-year grant of $45,000 to ETHOS PERCUSSION GROUP, Elmhurst, New York, in support of the Emerging Composer Commissioning Program. Ethos is dedicated to the advancement of the percussive arts in performance and education. Its eclectic repertoire highlights the players' vibrant musicianship as well as their extensive and unique collection of instruments. Ethos places an open call to solicit submissions. Once the commissions are made, the ensemble and the composers develop a timeline of regular meetings to move the works forward. Ethos ensures multiple opportunities for the new works to be heard.

FENCE MAGAZINE, New York City, received $10,000 in support of the publication of new works by emerging New York City and Minnesota writers. Since 1998, FENCE has published poetry and short fiction in magazine and book forms, and coordinated discussions, both public and in print, on topics that illuminate and contextualize contemporary literature. It selects work from a wide range of writing styles and aesthetic stances. It celebrates the idiosyncrasies of authors and nurtures individual voices. Jerome support is directed toward the publication of poetry and fiction by emerging writers. The magazine encourages unsolicited submissions and commits to an open and generous stance in its review.

LISA FISHER was awarded a grant for Positive Women, a one-hour documentary exploring the intersection of health, sexuality, and aging as it delves into the complex lives of three older women living with HIV. As their stories unfold over time, preconceptions about older women are challenged, and viewers discover why the incidence rate of HIV infection for the over-fifty population is rising twice as fast as younger adults.

A grant of $34,000 was authorized for FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK, Shafer, Minnesota, to subsidize 6-10 Jerome Emerging Artists' Residencies in the 2005 program. Franconia's outdoor venue provides physical space, equipment, the support of interns and staff, and funding assistance. Honoraria paid to artists assists with the purchase of materials, covers travel expenses, and provides subsidy for the creative generation and physical construction of works.

JOSHUA FRANKEL received a grant for Bicycle Messengers, a short film about New York City bicycle messengers in which all the messengers are digitally animated and all the backgrounds and environments are live action footage shot in Midtown Manhattan. By juxtaposing the animated messenger on top of the live action video, the film highlights the peculiar relationship between bicycle messengers and the modern city in which they operate.

FRANKLIN ART WORKS, Minneapolis, Minnesota, received $20,000 in support of the participation of emerging artists in the 2005-06 exhibition season. Franklin Art Works is a multidisciplinary center celebrating the art of this time in all its complexity and diversity. Thirteen exhibitions are planned, of which ten will feature emerging artists from Minnesota and New York City. Large-scale one-person exhibitions are mounted in the Main Gallery, with smaller bodies of work and installation pieces in the Project Space. There is also a video gallery that showcases new work.

INTERMEDIA ARTS OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, acting as fiscal agent for choreographer GERRY GIROUARD, received $9,500 in support of the development of a new evening-length dance work. Intermedia Arts, a community-based arts center, strives to be a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art. It fosters excellence in the creative process and product by presenting diverse cultural perspectives. Inspired by the book Searching for Life: The Grandmothers of the Plaza De Mayo and the Disappeared Children of Argentina, Girouard will combine his acrobatic dance style with Argentine tango to express the depth and breadth of this tragedy. He will explore the manner in which unwanted memories return, how chance encounters with a child stir suspicions that the child could be one's own grandchild, and how a barren mother could fear being confronted for having taken a child from a murdered mother. Girouard intends to choreograph the convictions, barriers and fears that alienate these two types of parents and their own justifications and conflicts between conscious and biological yearnings.

GRANTMAKERS IN THE ARTS, Seattle, Washington, received $20,000 over two years, in general support of its program. This membership organization promotes discourse on ideas about arts philanthropy within a diverse community of grantmakers.

GRAYWOLF PRESS, St. Paul, Minnesota, received a two-year grant of $50,000 in support of the publication of seven books by emerging authors. Graywolf is dedicated to the creation and promotion of thoughtful and imaginative contemporary literature essential to a vital and diverse culture. It publishes authors based in Minnesota and around the country whose work conveys a distinct vision by way of a unique voice and a vigorous engagement with the possibilities of language. Its longstanding commitment to supporting the work and careers of emerging literary authors has captured Jerome Foundation attention and support since 1985. Graywolf publishes a mixture of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction; established artists alongside new and emerging talents. Titles receiving Jerome support include those by authors Joseph Campana, Tom Sleigh, Stephen Burt, Robert Hill, Paul Lisicky and Jane Jeong Trenka.

A grant was awarded to RICHARD HANKIN for Home Front, a feature-length documentary about Sergeant Jeremy Feldbusch, an Army Ranger who was seriously wounded and lost his eyesight in Iraq, as he attempts to readjust to friends, family, community - and most importantly, his new, altered self. The film is also about Feldbusch's family, and how they adjust, reconfigure and cope with events that have forever changed their lives.

HARVESTWORKS, New York City, received a two-year grant of $34,000 in support of the participation of emerging artists in the Artists' Residencies Program. This organization fosters the creation of new work by artists who use technology in their creative process. Its approach to technology is hands-on, experimental and exploratory. The Artists' Residencies Program commissions up to 15 artists each year and supports them through the production process with a wide array of digital media equipment and assistance from expert engineers. The residency provides a creative period during which artists are able to produce substantial amounts of work and explore new directions.

IN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET AND MASK THEATRE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, received $17,000 in support of the commissioning of new work by emerging artists for Lake Street Excavation: Toy Theater Extravaganza. This professional puppet and mask theatre embraces the rich history of puppetry from its shamanistic roots and lively street theater traditions to contemporary imaginative performance language. Artists commissioned for Lake Street Excavation: Toy Theater Extravaganza will be working in toy theater, which has experienced a revival in recent years. The goals of the commissioning project are to provide opportunities for emerging puppetry artists to collaborate on the development and presentation of a new full-length production; create a puppet and mask production that explores innovative applications of toy theater; use the reconstruction of Lake Street as an opportunity to examine the street's history and symbolism; and produce an arts activity that creates a positive impact on a neighborhood.

HERE ART CENTER, New York City, received a two-year grant of $40,000 in support of the participation of emerging artists in the HERE Artists Residency Program (HARP). HERE, a producing organization, supports multidisciplinary work that does not fit into a conventional programming agenda. Emerging HARP artists receive, over a one to three year residency, comprehensive support including monthly fees, access to free rehearsal space, performance opportunities, production equipment, office time and caf hospitality. This artist residency program is divided into two components: development and production. HARP artists bring unique perspectives to the group; and the projects are diverse in scope and subject matter

HIGHPOINT CENTER FOR PRINTMAKING, Minneapolis, Minnesota, received $15,000 in support of the Jerome Emerging Printmakers' Residency. Highpoint was established in 2001 as a professional, community-oriented facility that provides educational programs, access and collaborative publishing opportunities; engages a diverse community of printmakers; and increases public understanding of and appreciation for the printmaking arts. It operates a full service printshop cooperative where artists of all skill levels have access to professional equipment and receive technical and creative support. Jerome dollars support a residency program that provides three competitively selected emerging printmakers eight months of subsidized access to a very well equipped printmaking studio. There is a culminating group show. Artists also receive the technical support of a printshop coordinator and discounts on classes and events.

INTAR THEATRE, New York City, received $20,000 in support of the New Works Lab. INTAR develops and produces new work for theatre in English by Latino writers. It solicits works from playwrights and performance artists in a variety of ways. The New Works Lab finds the most interesting new voices to cultivate and feature in workshop presentations. Workshop productions are given two weeks of rehearsal as well as design and technical support. The objective is to provide a full workshop production for each new work before a live audience in order to develop the skill of the writer and substance of the work.

INTERMEDIA ARTS, Minneapolis, Minnesota, strives to be a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art. It fosters excellence in the creative process and product by presenting diverse cultural perspectives and providing a context in which those multiple perspectives can be understood and ultimately bring people together. Each year, it serves nearly 700 artists and provides more than $400,000 in direct support to artists. A Jerome Foundation two-year grant of $72,000 was authorized to support the Naked Stages Program, which fosters artistic development among emerging performance artists. The program provides funds to create new works, comprehensive production experience, career building skills such as marketing, a performance practice curriculum, and critical response as a developmental tool. Four artists or groups of artists are identified via an annual open call and panel selection.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS, Burnsville, Minnesota, received $8,000 in support of the commissioning and performance of three new works by composer-performer Gao Hong. The organization is a nonprofit concert presenter and booking agency for performers of world instruments and singers of indigenous songs. Its primary artist is pipa player and composer Gao Hong. Two of the three works to be commissioned will be for solo pipa, and the third written for the cross-cultural ensemble Speaking in Tongues. The world premieres of the solo pipa works will be at the Hebei International Festival in China. The European premieres will be at a large Chinese music festival held in conjunction with the international conference of the European Foundation for Chinese Music Research meeting in Amsterdam. The work for Speaking in Tongues will be premiered at the Sound of Origin Festival in Paris. Hong has plans to perform the works elsewhere and to record them.

SHALINI KANTAYYA was awarded a grant for A Drop of Life, a narrative short about two women, one Indian and the other African-American, and the convergence of their shared struggle to save the world's drinking water. Kantayya seeks to bring awareness to the human dimensions of global water privatization issues and to tell a compelling story about how a few people can make a difference.

JODI KAPLAN received a grant for In The Blood, an experimental short that uses the theatrical platform of a boxing ring and the intense movement of fighting to create a new type of dance. It is about the individual's fight against time, and the brink between life and death.