The Anne McKee Artists Fund recently announced that 2021 grants will be available as of March 1. The funds were created due to the exceptional response to the annual fine art auction held online this year for the first time from Feb. 4-17. Over 50 local artists submitted works to the cause and received 50% of the proceeds from the sale. The Anne McKee Fund receives the remainder of proceeds for grants to support the creative efforts of established and emerging Florida Keys artists. The fund is grateful to all the artists and art collectors who supported the online auction as without them we could not continue this “Artist helping Artist” tradition that is now in its 26th year.
The McKee Fund awards grants each year of up to $2,000 to assist with specific creative project-based endeavors by individual visual, performance and literary artists who live in Monroe County. Grant monies are intended to cover costs specific to the project for which they are proposed. Acceptable expenses typically include project material costs, framing, publishing expenses and advertising. Founded by longtime Key West resident and art patron, Anne McKee, the not-for-profit fund has awarded over $330,000 in grants since its inception in 1994.
Local students and young adults are eligible to receive grants that can assist in the development of their talents in the arts. Youth scholarships are available for 14 years and younger, and 14 years and older. The Jon McIntosh Student Grant for Artistic Advancement, named for lifelong Key West artist and mentor of new artists, Jon McIntosh, is specifically awarded to a high school student to advance their creativity.
The “Environmental Award” is a unique one-time project-based grant earmarked by a donation courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. This grant supports artists doing innovative work with repurposed recycled materials and/or a project with an environmental focus.
Applications and more detailed information are available as of March 1 at MckeeFund.org. Completed applications must be submitted no later than midnight EST on Wednesday, March 31. Grant recipients will be notified of their application status on or before April 14.
