About The Last Mile Fund
The Last Mile Fund was designed to support individual artists with small, specific needs that could significantly impact their artistic careers. This fund recognized that sometimes a small amount of funding could be crucial to an artist’s ability to take advantage of opportunities or further their professional development. If you would like information on future grants, please join our newsletter!
Administered by Rocky Neck Arts Community, this fund facilitated funding to individuals for various purposes that could advance their artistic careers.
Key Focus Areas
- Capacity building and Professional Development: Funding for workshop fees for individuals or groups
- Increasing access to artist opportunities: Support for responding to calls for art, covering vendor market fees, etc.
How The Last Mile Fund Was Used
Grantees used the funding for a wide variety of purposes, including:
Visual Arts
- Purchase of art supplies (oil paint, canvas, etc.)
- Frame artwork for upcoming art shows
- Professional framing for pastel and watercolor work
- Installation of ceramic kiln support
- Supplies for public art and mural installations
- Materials for multi-generational art shows
- Create public art displays
- Professional photography of artwork
- Attend ceramics and mosaics workshops
- Cover photovoice exhibition costs including displays and framing
Performing Arts
- Venue costs for artist showcases and music performances
- Sound equipment for performances
- Hiring musicians for band pieces and recordings
- Support for participation in events like Newburyport Shanties 2023
- Participate in national dance competitions (registration and travel)
- Advanced training for specialized dance instruction, including Dance for PD®
Literary Arts
- Promotion of new poetry publication “VOZ”, including event travel
- Submitting new poetry manuscripts to multiple presses
- Cover costs of submitting to literary competitions
- Rent space for a poetry series
- Master’s program Creative Writing classes
Fashion and Textile Arts
- Fabric and notions for making clothes for a ready-to-wear collection
- Fees and materials for fashion shows
- Materials for the completion of ready-to-wear collections
Film and Photography
- Post-production for documentaries (colorizing, sound mixing, licensing)
- Camera rentals and hiring local crew for film projects
- Produce short documentaries
- Host film festivals, including paying local performers
- Organize photography showcases for underrepresented groups
Mixed Media and Interdisciplinary
- Support for solo exhibitions and showcase events
- Materials for the completion of various artistic projects
- Support for virtual life drawing events
Professional Development and Career Advancement
- Business coaching sessions
- Attend online workshops with renowned artists
- Cover part of an online painting course
- Submission and membership fees for professional development workshops
- Strengthen operational capacity and expand impact for various projects
- Marketing for events and stipends for collaborating artists
Event Participation and Sales
- Mini tour travel expenses
- Transportation costs for events and performances
- Support for students for vendor spaces
- Assistance with display fees for events like Salem Arts Festival
- Participation in shows like MASS Art x Montserrat
- Culinary participation in Diversity Festival
- Fees for pop-up events and receptions
- Support for showcasing at cultural events
- Fulfilling orders for art merchandise to sell at markets
- Cover supplies and fees for vendor markets
Space and Equipment
- Soundproofing for a small studio
- Rental of space and supplies for teaching art classes
- Signage for artist branding, such as at Madfish Wharf / Rocky Neck
Other Support
- Travel and childcare costs related to artistic pursuits
- Promotional materials for events like El Mercado at El Taller
Note: Due to the nature of this grant, specific grantee names were not disclosed. The fund aimed to provide crucial support to individual artists in their creative endeavors and professional growth.