Chatham Arts Council’s (CAC) JumpstART initiative commissions artists to make art, from tiny to medium-sized projects – and then present those in the public sphere. This year, we’re adding an exciting twist! Artists will present their works as part of ClydeFEST, which had a record 2,500 attendees last Spring.
“Artists are so dang good at helping us see our humanity and our community from new perspectives,” said CAC artistic director Cheryl Chamblee, in an announcement for the program. “That’s vital to bringing back a sense of belonging at a time when mental health is suffering. We wanted this year’s JumpstART to inspire artists to make work that might reflect back to us who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. And to share that work with Chatham County residents – free of charge – at ClydeFEST this spring will be extra special.”
This year, commissions range from $500 to $1,500. Past recipients include: JR Butler, Tanja Cole, Taz Halloween, Breadfoot, Britt Flood, Julia Kennedy, Kate Ladd, Brenda Linton, Sarah McCombie of Chatham Rabbits, Nancy Ann Moore, Alexander Percy, Will Ridenour of Grand Shores, Dolly Sickles, Wendy Spitzer and Buffy Taylor.
Chatham Arts Council’s JumpstART, for me, is more than just a little something to grease the wheels and pay some bills,” said Arts Council collaborator and artist, Stephan Meyers, aka Breadfoot. “It’s a we-believe-in-you-and-your-crazy-dreams green light go!”
To submit a JumpstART proposal, one must be a performing, visual, or literary artist living in Chatham County. Projects can be individual or collaborative as long as one member of the collaboration lives in the county. Completed works will be presented at CAC’s annual ClydeFEST in April of 2024. Previous JumpstART artists may apply, but where possible, the panel will prioritize artists new to the initiative.
This season’s JumpstART has been tailored to inspire artists to reflect back to us who we were, who we are, and who we want to be in Chatham County. With that in mind, this season’s creative prompt is “The Locals.” Artists should choose a Chatham resident, past or present, to serve as the springboard for their project.
All JumpstART awardees agree to participate in a public sharing as part of CAC’s annual festival ClydeFEST in April 2024 . CAC will not require artists to participate in a way that feels COVID-unsafe to the artist. The proposal deadline is Saturday, September 19, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
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