$616,000 Awarded to 92 New York State Artists Working in Fiction, Folk/Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary Work, Painting, and Video/Film

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has announced the recipients and finalists of the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship program, which it has administered for the past 36 years with leadership support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The organization has awarded a total of $616,000 to 92 artists (including three collaborations) whose ages range from 25-70 years throughout New York State in the following disciplines: Fiction, Folk/Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary Work, Painting, and Video/Film. Fifteen finalists, who do not receive a cash award, but benefit from a range of other NYFA services, were also announced.

The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Program makes unrestricted cash grants of $7,000 to artists working in 15 disciplines, recognizing five disciplines per year on a triennial basis. The program is highly competitive and this year's recipients and finalists were selected by discipline-specific peer panels from an applicant pool of 3,572. Since it was launched in 1985, the program has awarded over $33 million to more than 5,000 artists.

Each year, the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship offers a unique snapshot of contemporary arts across New York State. In addition to conversations on local and international politics and migration and identity, many artists reflected on their personal experiences around the COVID-19 pandemic. Common themes that resonated in all five disciplines were notions of isolation, home-life, change, and new beginnings. These themes were also reflected in the size of works created in 2020/21 and types of materials presented. Within the visual arts categories, artists showcased smaller scale works and used materials or repurposed objects in new, unexpected ways.

"We are proud to partner with NYSCA to offer unrestricted grants to artists of all disciplines across New York State, and are especially proud to do so after a harrowing year that has impacted many in our creative community," said Michael L. Royce, Executive Director, NYFA. "We hope that the financial support and recognition that this program offers spurs new creative growth for the artists, and we look forward to seeing, hearing, and experiencing their work in the years to come," he added.

"After more than a year of devastation across our sector, artists have continued to be the backbone of New York's spirit, resilience and recovery," said Mara Manus, Executive Director, NYSCA. "The work of artists is the connective tissue that binds the health of our State. On behalf of the entire NYSCA team, we are proud to continue to partner with NYFA to administer this vital support for artists in service of their vision and voice at all levels of their artistic development. "

Su-Yee Lin, a Fellow in Fiction from Lake Grove, NY, reflected on the award saying: "After a year that left no emotional, mental, and physical space for my writing practice, I was beginning to doubt myself as a writer. Receiving this fellowship has restored my faith in my work and my abilities; I truly needed this support, this belief in my work, and I am so thankful to NYSCA and NYFA for offering this opportunity and for choosing me as a fellow."

Ever Baldwin, a Fellow in Painting from Catskill, NY, said that the fellowship is a validation of the strength of his practice: "Working in isolation for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging; it was not possible to get much feedback in the studio, or often to show what I was making. Having a group of artists in my field select my work for this prestigious and competitive fellowship is an incredible vote of confidence, which is particularly encouraging in this current moment."

Luz F. Soliz, a Bronx, NY artist who received a Folk/Traditional Arts fellowship in collaboration with her daughter Catherine Ochún, acknowledged that this is the first time her work has received external recognition: "I founded my dance company almost 30 years ago, and since then I have dedicated my time to sharing and teaching my Garifuna culture. This is the first time my work has been honored by a grant and is the beginning of something great. Our Garifuna culture needs every bit of help to stay alive as it is endangered, and here is the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship making it more possible."

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