The Art of Sharing

The awards ceremony for the 2012-13 Rocket Grants Program was held yesterday. This program was launched in 2009 by the Charlotte Street Foundation in Kansas City MO and the KU Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence KS with funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The grantees involve 24 artists, comprising three individual projects and seven collaborative ones.

I am a member of a writing group called Vox Narro, which received a grant for a project called "Tell Me A Story." Most of the members of the group were able to attend the ceremony.  We already had been notified that we received the grant; but, to me, there was something special about sitting there, hearing our names called and actually receiving the grant. I liken it to the difference between knowing you will be receiving a gift and actually opening it. Our gift is now open and we get to start using it!

After the grants were distributed,  artists and collaboratives gave short presentations about their projects. I had read about the projects, but hearing about them from their creators was a whole new experience. Each shared a little history and the goals of the project. More than that, all shared their creativity and enthusiasm.

Two grantees from 2011-12 made presentations about their recently completed projects. This was a look into the future, a preview of what could be accomplished.

Click here for a list of all the 2012-13 projects. For more information about each project, click on the project name.