New Funding Helps Artists Take Time Off

Many composers relish the opportunity to shut off daily life for a while and escape to an artist residency. But the life left behind tends to demand continued financial attention—artists still need to keep the lights on and loan payments coming while away creating.

The MacDowell Colony has announced that it will be increasing assistance in this area to help colony artists meet these obligations. The new funds—a $50,000 gift to establish The Lesher Fund for composers; a $125,000 grant from The Rona Jaffe Foundation for emergent women writers; and a $150,000 grant by The Leon Levy Foundation for artists of any discipline—will help fellows defray costs associated with taking time away from work and/or standard living expenses. —