(SHEFFIELD, Mass.) – The Boschen Fund for Artists, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, is accepting grant applications from artists who live in Berkshire County, Mass.; Columbia County, N.Y.; northeast Dutchess County, N.Y.; or northwest Litchfield County, Conn., by July 15.
The Boschen Fund for Artists supports emerging artists or artists experiencing a significant change of direction in their work. Funding supports individual artists or collaborations in the creation of new work. The Fund supports artists as they advance to the next level of their development. There will be a total of $30,000 available for granting this year.
The fund accepts applications from visual artists, writers, craftspeople, as well as new media, installation and performance artists, and interpretive artists working in dance, music and other areas of performance. Applicants must have been full-time residents of the Berkshire Taconic region for two years prior to applying or demonstrate significant connection to the area.
The fund has supported various projects including: resources to create new paintings, research for a novel, a travel grant to a photographer, the purchase of a kiln, help to complete a documentary film, support for a composer to develop new work, and presentation funds for a dancer/choreographer.
An advisory board for the Boschen Fund will review all applications and make recommendations to Berkshire Taconic’s Board of Directors. The board includes artists and arts professionals in a variety of artistic disciplines from the greater Berkshire Taconic region. Applications are available online. Completed applications are due by July 15.
Martha Boschen Porter lived a long and creative life as an artist, fashion designer and photographer/journalist. Her creativity was accompanied by a deep interest in helping other artistic people. Martha believed the world is made a better place if artists are given the resources they need to create work, have it made available to the public and are given the chance to imagine their future.
In 2006, Martha dissolved her private foundation and established the Martha Boschen Porter Fund, an endowment at Berkshire Taconic, allowing her the joy of supporting artists in the region while BTCF handled all the legal and administrative work. She and the original board continued as advisors to the fund. Upon her death in 2011, Martha left a portion of her estate to the fund so that its work will continue in her name long into the future.
For over 25 years, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has built stronger communities and helped donors make a difference through charitable giving in northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships to nonprofits and individuals in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.