Minnesota Center for Book Arts Wins $50,000 Joyce Award

Two collaborations between artists of color and cultural organizations in the Twin Cities have each won $50,000 from The Joyce Foundation's annual Joyce Awards competition.

The Minnesota Center for Book Arts grant will commission a new exhibit in 2017 with graphic artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. and The O'Shaughnessy grant will commission Ananya Chatterjea and her Ananya Dance Theatre to stage a new production in 2018.

The Joyce Awards is the only program supporting artists of color in major Great Lakes cities. The Chicago-based foundation has awarded nearly $3 million to commission 55 new works since the program started in 2003.

A distinctive feature of the Joyce Awards is that a winners' work must include the process of engaging community members to inform and shape their art. Community forums, workshops, panel discussions, social media input and one-on-one conversations will help influence each artist's final presentation.

“It is exciting to see such a powerful focus not only on the creative aspects of these works, but also on how the artists plan to involve diverse communities in their development and presentation,” said Ellen Alberding, president of The Joyce Foundation.  “We are confident these productions will do a great job of telling stories that can foster civic participation and cross-cultural understanding, and we are proud to support them and showcase the artistic talent of the Great Lakes region.”

Renowned print and graphic artist, Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., will lead a series of free work sessions at the MCBA where participants from under-represented community groups will learn to print signage by hand.  The posters and graphic pieces will become an exhibit during the center's biennial celebration in the summer of 2017 and fill the entire 55,000-square-foot Open Book space.

"We are eager to partner with Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. on this project that will re-imagine how we create, shape and share art through personal and community narratives," said Jeff Rathermel, executive director of Minnesota Center for Book Arts. "This commission is an opportunity for Kennedy to create in a highly collaborative environment, while responding to the voices of our rich and diverse community."

About The Joyce Foundation
The Joyce Foundation works with grantee partners to improve quality of life, promote community vitality, and achieve a fair society. We focus grant making primarily on the Great Lakes region, and also have national impact through our program areas – Education, Employment, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention, Democracy and Culture. Our Culture program focuses on strengthening and diversifying arts organizations, building capacity within the arts sector and investing in the creative capital of artists of color. Joyce was established in 1948 in Chicago, and over the years has continued to respond to changing social needs. For more information, please visit our web site or follow us on Twitter @JoyceFdn.