Virginia Beach Art Center resident artist Michele Barnes
By Jeff Maisey
The city of Virginia Beach has once again stepped up its commitment to artists.
Earlier this year it announced 28 local artists would receive financial grants in support of their work.
Seventeen of the grantees have their recent works on view at an exhibition titled “Exhibition for City of Virginia Beach Arts Grantees” at the Virginia Beach Art Center in the ViBe Creative District. The exhibition runs through May 17.
Emily Labows, Cultural Affairs Director of Virginia Beach, said city council members had asked how they could best assist individual artists. After a lot of research in how other municipalities addressed such a desire, Labows said this: “We give a lot of grants to non-profit arts organizations but we haven’t given support to individual artists. That’s what sparked the idea and other cities do it.”
According to Lisa Wigginton, Grants Manager of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs, the 28 grantees were just the first round of the program. Artists received up to $4,500. The second round will aid 33 applicants.
Grant applications are given a score based in part on how long the artist has lived and worked as an artist in the city. While most were visual artists, Wigginton said her department also considered individuals working to present a puppet show, design a website, and record music.
“It’s really to expand their professional growth,” Labows added.
Labows also shared a written requirement in support of the arts.
“Twenty percent of the admissions/amusement tax goes to arts and culture,” she said.
Additional grant programs include Creative Neighborhoods.
“That’s up to $10,000 for local civic leagues to partner with artists to do artistic projects and events, “Labows said.
Wigginton said the overall annual budge for these programs is roughly $100,000.
Wigginton and Labows share the view that such visible support to the creative community will encourage artists from outside the city to move to Virginia Beach.
The grant-winning artists exhibited at Virginia Beach Art Center include Michele Barnes, Heather Beardsley, Jessica Folck, Anna Freeman, Justin Garcia, Jaida Garrison, Jessica Goldner, Alex Hopper, Rachel “RJ” Jaffe, Theodore Jamison, Maggie Kerrigan, Sarah Kohart, Carrie Lane, Susan Owens, Seda Pound, Katie Prock, and Sandra Snider.
Michele Barnes, a resident artist at Virginia Beach Art Center who works as a wood block print maker, expressed appreciation for receiving a grant.
“I can order supplies I normally wouldn’t,” Barnes shared.
Barnes carves each wooden block and uses ink to print each artwork by hand. It’s a traditional technique she enjoys. The wood she uses is imported from Japan, a country whose block prints have been a cultural gem for centuries.
Anna Freeman, who works independently as an acrylic painter, has a trio of works exhibited as a grantee, including her “A World Underwater III,” an abstract view based on an underwater view under the dock at Lynnhaven Inlet taken with her use using a waterproof case.
“With the grant I was able to purchase materials, develop a project, and then see it through,” she said.
Freeman also works in three-dimensional ceramics.
“I’m so happy to be a resident of Virginia Beach and be part of the art scene,” said Freeman.