Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS)
In 2009 I spent 2 months in northern Uganda photographing and teaching photography workshops for A River Blue, a school providing psychosocial counseling and intense vocational training in topics like tailoring, agriculture, and arts to vulnerable youth. Upon returning, I spent about 3 months on and off editing the work. When I was at a place where I was relatively satisfied, I applied for the 2009 Conscientios Competition and was selected as 1 of 3 winners.
Shortly thereafter I was approached by my gallery about exhibiting the work for the spring of 2010. We set a date for the exhibition and I began printing. One day I was talking to my friend and photographer Alan Winslow about raising funds and he suggested applying for the Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) offered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
From NYFA’s website, The SOS are “designed to help individual artists of all disciplines take advantage of unique opportunities that will significantly benefit their work or career development. Literary, media, visual, music and performing artists may request support ranging from $100 to $600 for specific, forthcoming opportunities that are distinct from work in progress.” Note: SOS is only available to New York State artists excluding residents of the five boroughs of New York City.
Each county in New York State is associated with a specific art council, and I received my SOS through the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts (UCCCA). With these funds I was able to lessen the cost of printing the exhibition and traveling to New York for the opening reception. Thank you NYFA for supporting this opportunity.
Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts website.
New York Foundation for the Arts website.
Also, the exhibition has been extended to April 14th so please stop in, see the work, and learn about A River Blue.
