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Community Corner

The San Diego Foundation Introduces The Creative Catalyst Fund: Individual Artist Fellowship Program

The San Diego Foundation (The Foundation) introduces the Creative Catalyst Fund: Individual Artist Fellowship Program (CCF Program), a competitive grant that will provide opportunities for local professional artists to create new work. Through partnerships with 19 pre-selected nonprofit arts and culture organizations, The Foundation will fund fellowships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

San Diego-based professional artists working in the disciplines of visual, performing, literary and film arts and at all stages of their careers are eligible to apply. Artists must be at least 18 years old and not currently enrolled or plan to enroll in a degree program during the fellowship. Awards will be used to develop new work with fellowships beginning January 1, 2012 and ending by December 31, 2012.

To be invited to apply to the CCF Program, artists must first complete a Letter of Intent application in which they will provide professional qualifications, a project concept and specify the nonprofit arts and culture organization they would like to sponsor their project. Artists selected through this process will then be invited to apply for the grant. The Letter of Intent application may be accessed at www.sdfoundation.org/CCFProgram. The deadline for submitting the Letter of Intent application is August 5, 2011.

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The CCF Program is one of three programs under Innovation through the Arts, a new initiative developed to increase creativity and innovation throughout the San Diego region. Launched in May 2011 after a year of planning, Innovation through the Arts ushers in a new era of arts engagement for The Foundation.

“Communities that invest in the arts reap the additional benefit of jobs, economic growth and a high quality of life,” said Felicia Shaw, Director of Arts and Culture at The Foundation. “The Creative Catalyst Program is just one strategy to ensure that San Diego’s creative workforce is vibrant and healthy.”

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Interested artists are encouraged to attend reception and informational workshop on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at The Foundation, 2508 Historic Decatur Road, in Point Loma where they can learn more about the program and meet the 19 nonprofit arts and culture sponsor organizations. To RSVP for the gathering, contact Meryl Zwanger at merylz@sdfoundation.org. Space is limited. RSVPs are required.

For more information about The Foundation and its Arts and Culture Program, visit http://www.sdfoundation.org or contact Felicia Shaw at felicia@sdfoundation.org.

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