The Northwest Territory Art Guild Monday received, for the second consecutive year, a $5,000 Arts Project Support Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission.
This latest round of funding comes as a relief to the group, ensuring the successful continuation of the First City Public Sculpture project.
The First City Public Sculpture Exhibition 2020 was completed last winter and presented seven outdoor sculptures by artists from across the nation.
The 2021 exhibit will add nine additional pieces this summer — three at Gregg Park, three at Vincennes University, one at the Visitors and Tourism Bureau, one at Fireman’s Park and an additional sculpture will be added to the already existing exhibit on the Riverwalk.
“We had to choose the sculptures before having the funding, so we were operating on faith,” said Amy DeLap.
More than a year ago, the local art guild, a nonprofit organization located at 316 Main St., selected DeLap and Andrew Jendrzejewski — both retired Vincennes University art professors and the owners of Art Space Vincennes LLC — to lead the exhibition.
Jendrzejewski and DeLap say grant funding and private donations are critical to the success of the exhibit because they allow the organization to appeal to talented sculptors across the country.
“This money supports the artists through stipends, which is important, in part, because they have to truck their work in from all over the country, and we can’t expect them to pay to transport the sculptures to us,” said Jendrzejewski.
Too, he says, the funds will allow the Northwest Territory Art Guild to plan special events dedicated to the pieces of art.
“We would like to try to get more people involved with the sculptures, so we want to work on some outreach efforts and events.”
Nearly 600 applications were reviewed by the IAC last month, with fewer than 400 of those receiving approval for grant dollars this year.
DeLap also noted while 65% of applicants received some funding, most did not receive the full amount requested. But the First City Sculpture project was granted it’s full $5,000 request.
“You never really expect to get the full amount, and certainly not a second consecutive time” said DeLap, delighted by the good news.
The IAC funding, they say, is an indication that the commission feels the project is worthwhile.
“It means we’re doing something good, and the IAC feels strongly about what we’re doing here,” said Jendrzejewski.
Commission officials say they considered how significantly each proposed project might positively impact the state when determining which requests to support.
“The projects and organizations that are receiving funding have major positive impacts on the cultural, economic, and educational climate of Indiana, “said Alberta Barker, Chair of the Indiana Arts Commission.
Too, said Jendrzejewski, the First City Public Sculpture Exhibition has been designated the Knox County Arts Trust License Plate Project for 2022.
The IAC voted to distribute funds from the Arts Trust — which is supported by donations from the sale of Celebrate the Arts license plate — to one Arts Project Support grant recipient from every county in which there was a funded application.
IAC officials said the beneficiaries of the license plate project were selected based on “exemplary commitment to community, education, economy and health.”
DeLap and Jendrzejewski say they hope to have all of the 2021 sculptures installed by the end of August, with tentative plans for a celebration of the exhibit in September.
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