Arkansas Arts Council Announces Recipients of 2016 Individual Artist Fellowship Awards

The Arkansas Arts Council is pleased to announce the recipients of its Individual Artist Fellowship awards. The artists will be recognized at a reception from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, at Historic Arkansas Museum on 200 E. Third Street in Little Rock. Refreshments will be served in the Stella Boyle Smith Atrium at 5:30 with the awards program beginning at 6 in the Ottenheimer Theater. Seating is limited; RSVP by Friday, Oct. 7, by calling (501) 324-9348 or emailing robin.mcclea@arkansas.gov.

Awarded annually, the fellowships recognize individual artistic ability and creative excellence in literary, performing and visual arts. These $4,000 fellowships enable artists to set aside time for creating their art and improving their skills. Three artistic disciplines are selected each year as categories for the awards.

The three categories for this year are Literary Arts: Poetry; Performing Arts: Music Composition – Folk/Gospel/Jazz/Pop; and Visual Arts: Painting. The recipients were selected by a jury of professional artists, writers and performers.

Literary Arts: Poetry
Megan Blankenship, Little Rock
Renee Emerson, Jonesboro
H.K. Hummel, Little Rock

Performing Arts: Music Composition – Folk/Gospel/Jazz/Pop
Charles L. (Charley) Sandage, Mountain View
Rachel Brick aka Rachel Fields, Fayetteville
Derrick K. Gibbs, Benton

Visual Arts: Painting
Dustyn John Bork, Batesville
Heidi Carlsen-Rogers, Bella Vista
Steve Spencer, Little Rock

About the Arkansas Arts Council
The Arkansas Arts Council advances the arts in Arkansas by providing services and supporting arts endeavors that encourage and assist literary, performing and visual artists in achieving standards of professional excellence. In addition, the Arkansas Arts Council provides technical and financial assistance to Arkansas arts organizations and other providers of cultural and educational programs.