COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) is thrilled to announce the GCAC Navigator program, a new initiative that will help GCAC engage more deeply with our diverse community. The GCAC Navigator program will hire 14-18 artists each year to share resources and guide artists through GCAC grant and fellowship applications. The goal of this program is to increase outreach to new artists, especially those from historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.
For 2023, 18 individuals were invited to the Navigator program. These include practitioners in dance, literary, visual, theatrical, film, fashion, comics and musical arts, and artists who speak Arabic, English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Urdu.
The 2023 GCAC Navigators include:
- Mohamed Ali (he/him/his)
- Sayuri M. Ayers (she/her/hers)
- Nicholas D’Andrea (he/him/his)
- Kenneth Eaddy (KDNL.) (he/they)
- Kelly Hurlburt (she/her/hers)
- Krate Digga (he/him/his)
- Dexter Komakaru (he/him/his)
- Lawrence Tawneven Lemon (he/him/his)
- Tripp Fontane (he/him/his)
- Ana Lowe (she/her/hers)
- Cody F. Miller (he/him/his)
- Sydnee Roberts-Crews (she/her/hers)
- Mary Skrenta (she/her/hers)
- Z. F. Taylor (he/him/his)
- Fariha Tayyab (she/her/hers)
- Mitch E. Vicieux (they/them)
- Lorii A. Wallace (she/her/hers)
- Julie Whitney-Scott (she/her/hers)
GCAC Navigators are active artists in Columbus and have deep connections to the city’s artistic community, and personally identify as members of a historically marginalized or underrepresented community. Read more about the Navigators at gcac.org/2023-gcac-navigators.
“GCAC has been instrumental in my success as a writer,” says Sayuri Ayers, an essayist and poet. “By becoming a GCAC Navigator, I hope to help other artists access grants and other support. I’m especially interested in forming connections with New American artists and writers who may not be aware of GCAC’s resources.”
“GCAC has helped me advance my career in Columbus,” added spoken word artist Tripp Fontaine. “I’m often shocked at how few artists know of the work being done. The opportunity to work alongside the organization and increase awareness won’t only benefit me, but the Black arts community at large.”
“GCAC has been a valuable resource in my career thus far and it’s something that sets the Columbus arts scene apart from other major cities,” says dancer Kelly Hurlbut. “I also truly believe that the more dance happening in our city the better. The more voices making work, the more interesting the conversation becomes and the higher the quality of the dancing that happens.”
The Navigator program runs January through December 2023. Navigators are expected to engage with local artists and share GCAC grant opportunities, guidelines, workshops and other resources to their immediate community. They will be paid $2,500 for the year and are given a $500 transportation stipend, as well as additional gift cards, free or discounted tickets to arts events and experiences, networking opportunities, access to GCAC staff and more.
More than 70 artists were nominated by Columbus-area arts organizations such as Art Possible Ohio, Columbus Fashion Alliance, Maroon Arts Group, OhioDance and Veteran Arts Initiative. GCAC staff and board members submitted nominations as well.
The nomination process for 2024 GCAC Navigators will open next fall.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
