Mini-Grant Kibosh

So, I applied for a Mini-Grant from the City for the next 48x48 event...and got the mild mannered slap down.

Which, oddly enough, inspires me.

The arts evolution will not be funded by the City, though it WILL be televised, and it will scare the hell out of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith.

Going through this process, I realized that it is OUR responsibility as artists to make our projects 100% viable. Like anything else, we have to make it functional and self realizing within the current social structure. If the PEOPLE won't support it, then it isn't wanted, and/or it needs to be evolved. 

There are insane pockets of money floating out there, even in this depressed area. Molding an arts movement that can leverage those financial pockets is a task I as an individual artist must take ownership of. A limited source of funding from a grant is not sustainable, and would make my project reliant on the generosity of an unreliable and different minded source. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I would have happily made use of any grant money awarded. However, the rejection of funding forces me to create my own economic foundation for 48x48. In the long run, this will ensure a longer running, sustainable event that can continue to grow rather than stagnate on a dwindling fundings program (cut another 12% this year).

Look for the first FULL LENGTH documentary of 48x48 1 this summer! Andrew Burke is hard at work on the film, complete with key participant interviews.

And just to get the juices flowing, here is a peak at the first wave of promotions for the 2nd coming...

The possibilities for art orgasm are infinite.