[Tacoma Color PC.jpg] 24 Artists Funded by the Tacoma Arts Commission The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $72,000 in Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funding to 24 Tacoma-based artists working in artistic disciplines including visual, literary, film, music, digital, and interdisciplinary arts. Tacoma Artists Initiative Program awards are $3,000 each. "The Tacoma Artists Initiative Program is just one of many avenues through which Tacoma experiences the arts--by Tacoma for Tacoma," said Tacoma Arts Commission Chair Rosie Ayala. "Artists contribute to the collective expression and healing of our city and show up with that spirit now more than ever. We are thrilled to support the creative economy and look forward to the opportunities these artists foster for our community." The 2021-2022 Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funded artists are: Curtis Ashby, Marit Berg, Katie Dean, Priscilla Dobler, Lance Griffith, Maria Jost, Kareem Kandi, Rian Kelly, Gene Kemper, Rico Lastrapes, David Long, Miriam McBride, Adrian Milanio, Mark Monlux, Gloria Muhammad, Tamiko Nimura, Chandler O'Leary, Gerardo Peña, Kellie Richardson, Mauricio Robalino, Suzanne Skaar, Cydney Stephens, Jacob Sunday, and Chuck Taylor. Funded projects include: painting of public murals; illustration, reading, and distribution of a children's book; an interactive and living public art installation; in-person and digital visual art classes for youth; composition and public performances of music; production of a virtual concert; illustrated tools to support mental health; a neighborhood-based 'Little Free Museum'; a poetry project incorporating sound and projection; writing and reading of a memoire; a 2D pixel art game; a culture-focused talk show; creation and screening of a live action and stop motion animation film; and the creation and exhibition of visual art focused on printmaking, painting, illustration, photography, mixed media collage, and storytelling. The Tacoma Artists Initiative Program was established in 1999 to encourage the contributions made by individual artists within the city of Tacoma. The goals of the program are to recognize creative expression of the artists in our community, financially assist artists in generating new work and growing their skills, and engage the broader community through free public components presented by the funded artists. The Tacoma Artists Initiative Program is one of two funding programs administered by the Tacoma Arts Commission. For more information, visit cityoftacoma.org/funding<https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1660>. NAOMI STROM-AVILA Funding & Cultural Programs Manager Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality (she/her) 253.591.5191 TACOMA VENUES & EVENTS<tacomavenues.org> Tacoma Dome<http://www.tacomadome.org/> | Greater Tacoma Convention Center<http://www.tacomaconventioncenter.org/> Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/arts> | Tacoma Creates<http://www.tacomacreates.org/> | Special Events<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/specialevents>