On June 13, the Renton Municipal Arts Commission presented its allocations to the city council for a second round of the 2022 art grant program.
The commission received funding requests in 2022 that almost doubled its entire budget for the year. As a result, members worked hard to stretch funding for as many projects as possible.
The commission awarded $23,545 to support six projects in this round:
Anna Mia Davidson/Photography Exhibit
An exhibition of Ukrainan historical photographs at the Renton History Museum. The exhibit will include a corresponding program series in the North Gallery of the museum featuring an artist talk and an evening of conversation led by history and Ukrainian studies professors to help put the images into historical context. $2,500.
Ascendance Aerial Arts/Dance Instruction Scholarship Program
The scholarship program provides reduced or free opportunities for students to participate in lessons at Ascendance Aerial Arts. $2,400
Burnett Station Public Mural
Forest Lights will shine on a blank wall on the back of the Burnett Station Apartments, visible from S. 4th Street and the Renton Chamber of Commerce Building. $7,000
Cheryl D’Ambrosio/Plein Air Painting for disabled and senior citizens
A video production of Plein Air Painting instruction for Disabled and Senior citizens. This video will bring awareness, and caretakers will benefit from seeing how to facilitate outdoor art activities in our community. They will learn to think “outside the box” for the benefit of their client or family member. $1,910
Puget Sound Puppetry Festival/ 2022 Puppetry Festival
The annual celebration to showcase local puppetry arts and traditions of Puget Sound. The festival seeks to cross-pollinate their puppetry craft with knowledge from visiting artists. The focus is to provide access at low or no cost to under-served youth populations and the community at large. The goal is to entertain and inspire members of these communities to tell their stories. At the same time, they enjoy groundbreaking works in contemporary puppetry not ordinarily available in this area. $7,000
Renton PTA Reflections Program/ Renton Reflections Program
Reflections allow K-12 students to participate in their favorite expression of arts, whether writing a poem, or short story, creating a unique video, dancing, musical composition, or visual arts. $2,735
City Council includes funding for works of art and an art grants program in the city’s annual budget. Since 1965, Renton Municipal Arts Commission (RMAC) has served as an advisor to city staff to ensure artistic and cultural development through awareness, education, projects, and public art.