Relief Grants Go to Local Musicians, Artists

NEW ORLEANS — Some 40 local musicians and artists have received grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to support them through a period of lagging business.

The Idea Village, a local nonprofit business accelerator, awarded more than $50,000 in grants from the organization’s Business Relief Fund, an emergency program for qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs. The lead sponsors for this round of relief grants were local businesswoman Leslie Jacobs and Strategic Staffing Solutions S3.

“Music is a critical piece to the rebuilding of our culture and tourism,” Idea Village board member Jacobs said in a release. “Musicians and artists are businesses that create jobs and revenue for our community. Can anyone imagine New Orleans if we don’t bring back the music?

The musicians receiving grants had to demonstrate that they had been playing in New Orleans for at least five years and have a future engagement planned within five months of receiving the grant. The Idea Village consulted with the Tipitina’s Foundation to identify candidates.

Recipients are: Allen and Reggie Toussaint, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Bob French, Brian Cayolle, Charmaine Neville, Craig Klein, Dave Malone, Donald Harrison, Dr. Michael White, George Porter, Gregory Davis, Herlin Riley, Irma Thomas, Irvin Mayfield, Johnny Vidacovich, Keith Frazier, Kidd Jordan, Kirk Joseph, Leroy Jones, Marva Wright, Roger Lewis, Shades of Praise, Tim Green, Tommy Malone, Tricia Boutte, and Walter Washington.

Grants also went to fund a New Orleans artist “road show” coordinated by local artist and gallery owner Jonathan Ferrara, where local artists will promote their works to Atlanta buyers in the absence of local customers. Artist participating are: Sandy Chism, Roberto Ortiz, Kathleen Banton, Jeffrey Pitt, Amy McKinnon, Jonathan Ferrara, Herman Leonard, Jenny Bagert, Zack Smith, Adam Farrington, Sidonie Villere, Gina LagunaMary Jane Potts, Miranda Lake and Dan Tague.

The grant will enable visual artist to ship their artwork to Atlanta for “New Orleans Artists in Exile,” a traveling exhibition of displaced New Orleans artists. This is the second stop of this traveling exhibition that is designed to help New Orleans-based visual artists show and sell their work so that they can continue to live and work in New Orleans. The exhibition opens at AW/OB Lambert Gallery in Atlanta on Jan. 19, 2006.

“Right now entrepreneurs need our help in their efforts to resume normal operations,” said Tim Williamson, president of The Idea Village. “If we invest and support these pioneers now, our community will reap the rewards in the future.”

To apply for future grants, businesses may go to www.ideavillage.org and fill out the form under Katrina Update.