Artist Resources, Grants for Artists, Creative Projects, Making Money for Artists

Simone Alexander is the Producing Artistic Director of New Manifest Theatre, a contemporary theatre production company dedicated to reflecting the collective human experience through inclusive storytelling. New Manifest Theatre has been a fiscally-sponsored project of Fractured Atlas since 2018 and is based in Austin, Texas. Simone talked to us about good friday, New Manifest Theatre’s latest production, and the process involved in bringing the story to the stage.

Cole Bankston is the creator of "Donnie from Death Row," an autobiographical short film project designed to change the way Americans view prisoners and the prison industrial complex. Cole is a designer and multimedia artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a very new member of Fractured Atlas, having joined this year. His recently launched campaign on Fundraising by Fractured Atlas seeks to raise the funds needed to bring his film to life. Cole shared with us some of his story, inspiration, and the impact that he hopes his project will have on its viewers.

Theresa Koon is the creator of “Mother of Exiles,” a choral project committed to motivating people to discuss and address the complexities of immigration in America. Theresa is based in Portland, Oregon and became a member of Fractured Atlas last year in her efforts to raise the funding necessary to bring her project to life. She hopes that “Mother of Exiles” will ultimately be performed by choirs around the world and used as an anthem for organizations and campaigns that seek to support asylum seekers.

Last year I met Kristina Wong in Chicago at Fractured Atlas' Artist Campaign School, a program that offers trainings for artists and arts administrators interested in running for political office. Kristina is a comedian, performance artist, and actor currently serving as an elected representative of the Wilshire Center Sub-District 5 Koreatown Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles, California. Created to engage and educate young people in civic participation, "Radical Cram School" recently launched its second season. Kristina took the time to share some insight into her journey and the process for bringing the web series to life.

Merce, The Series, created by Fractured Atlas member organization Skipping Boyz Productions, was produced to create an entertaining web series that combats the stigma against HIV. The series shows the life of a person living with the illness who isn’t sad, sick, or dying. Through music, love, and laughs, Merce, The Series hopes to prove that “Life Can Be Positive When You’re Positive.” Skipping Boyz Productions has been a member of Fractured Atlas since 2014 and is based in New York City. Tyne Firmin, Producer and Director of Merce, The Series shared some of their process with us on bringing the web series to life.

What is #SavetheNEA Video: A Little Help From My Friends? A Who’s Who of Broadway, Hollywood, Theatre, Dance, and Music came together at the legendary Avatar Studios in New York City to record and film a single of the iconic Beatles’ song “ A Little Help From My Friends” to inspire support for the arts in America and help save the NEA.

by Courtney Duffy, Robert W. Deutsch Arts & Technology Policy Fellow at Fractured Atlas Source: Flickr Fractured Atlas proudly signed on to a letter to the new administration in support of technology policies that promote universal access, an open internet, and civil rights. The letter, which was signed this month by 18 public interest and nonprofit groups, urges the incoming Trump administration to incorporate seven principles into its policy-making. Here are the principles, which can also be found in the full letter:

Courtney Duffy’s work as Fractured Atlas Arts & Technology Policy Fellow has been made possible through the generosity of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. You can find her by emailing courtney.duffy@fracturedatlas.org or on Twitter @cduffy90. The Deutsch Foundation recently profiled Courtney’s fellowship on its blog, which you can find here.

Source: Flickr Members of Congress spend recess at home in the district, offering artists a great opportunity to connect Our Arts & Technology Policy Fellow, Courtney Duffy (@cduffy90), whose role is made possible through the generosity of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, offers the merits of connecting with elected officials in the coming weeks, along with advocacy tips for artists who choose to do so.