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4.23.25 Rena Zapata Bouchard
This week Rena Zapata Bouchard spoke with Phil. Rena will be receiving the Arts Advocate of the Year Award on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at our Awards Reception and Program.
Rena spoke about how she got involved in Studio 110, what they offer, and being a make-up artist and a photographer. She coordinates all the activities there now.
A certified freelance makeup artist and portrait photographer, Rena is passionate about empowering others and using the arts as a tool for social change. In 2019, she spearheaded the creation of Studio 110, a permanent space dedicated to digital storytelling for youth and adults in Crookston and the surrounding area and has continued in an active leadership role with the organization.
A satellite site since 1996 for Minneapolis organization In Progress, Studio 110 first offered summer programs called Fresh Voices in Crookston. In high school, Rena participated in one of their sessions. Later in 2018, she enrolled her kids, and she joined them to chaperone and never left. There she learned portraiture and has continued to hone her craft.
Studio 110 has become a space for media arts creativity with themes related to breaking stereotypes and acceptance. It is open to everyone. Media arts is art made looking through a lens like photography and video. Rena helps students who identify as persons of color find a welcoming home base at Studio 110. She coordinates media arts workshops, bringing in talented professional artists from across the nation to teach and empower those who come to the downtown Crookston location. She also podcasts and utilizes her makeup artistry in creative projects with the students and offers free family portraits during themed holiday events at Studio 110.
This award will be presented on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at the University of Minnesota. Everyone is welcome to attend. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Funding for this award comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
2.28.23 Eric Mueller
McKnight Fellowships in Media Arts Administrator Eric Mueller is featured on this podcast. Eric is at FilmNorth in St. Paul. FilmNorth administers the McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists. This includes filmmakers, screenwriters, and other media artists. The application deadline is March 20. Eric spoke about FilmNorth and the fellowships.
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT MEDIA ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
The intent of this program is to recognize and support mid-career media artists living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence. This is not a project-specific grant.
The McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists provide recognition and financial support for mid-career media artists. The program is designed to reward media artists who have created a substantial body of work over a period of time, and who are at a career stage that is beyond emerging. The specific criteria that the jurors use to select the fellows are consistent artistic excellence and merit, clarity and uniqueness of vision, professional accomplishment, and commitment.
Four fellowships of $25,000 will be awarded to Minnesota media artists. The awards are unrestricted and can help an artist set aside periods of time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration; take advantage of an opportunity; or work on a new project.
One of these four fellowships will be awarded to a screenwriter, and three will be awarded to other types of media artists, including directors in film, television, and streaming; radio producers; and creative artists in web, computer/video games, and other emerging forms of media. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
Eligible applicants include directors and writers in film, television, and streaming; radio producers; and creative artists in web, computer/video games, and other emerging forms of media. The fellowship is designed to support Minnesota media artists whose work is of exceptional artistic merit and who are at a career stage beyond emerging.
Listen to the podcast to learn more and visit their website with questions or to apply at https://filmnorth.org/mcknight-fellowships-media-artists/.