Grant Committee: Critical Fierceness Queer Art Grant

Since its founding in 2005, Chances Dances has sought to create a safe space for all gender expressions by bringing together the varied LGBTIQ communities of Chicago. The creation of the Critical Fierceness grant expands upon this goal by offering a unique opportunity for queer artistic expression. Individuals or groups who wish to utilize the Critical Fierceness Grant for artistic purposes and who identify themselves or their work as queer are encouraged to apply. The Critical Fierceness Grant supports queer artists with financial assistance of up to $500.

In 2012,Chances Dances expanded the Critical Fierceness Grant to include the Mark Aguhar Memorial Grant, which seeks to fund projects by queer woman-identified and trans-feminine artists of color. The Mark Aguhar Memorial Grant supports feminine-spectrum queer artists of color with financial assistance of up to $1000. Chances Dances is proud to provide both these opportunities for personal exploration, community development and radical change through art.

I am proud to serve on the Critical Fierceness Grant committee board. Every six months, we meet in one of the committee members’ living room, and decide who will win cash and prizes. (Okay, just cash really, but you get the idea.) We aim to support queer artists, and create a loving and inclusive arts community. I have served on the board since January 2011, helping select winners for three award cycles. I’m honored to be a part of the Chances Dances Critical Fierceness community.