EMERGING ARTIST IN FILM ARTS GRANT

Elissa Weir
filmmaker

Elissa will use the grant towards the experimental short film documentary Keep Me Posted about how people stayed in touch in early 20^th century using postcards. These messages from the past relate to themes of human connection through communication. Elissa believes “this is an incredibly important theme, at a time when, despite our many ways of staying connected, we feel more disconnected from each other than ever.”

EMERGING ARTIST IN LITERARY ARTS GRANT

Erik “E-tomic” Johnson
spoken word artist, lyricist, workshop facilitator, and event organizer

Erik will use the grant towards publishing expenses for his poetry collection A Musing of Thorns and Roses which will explore “the incredible beauty that can arise amid the most adverse circumstances that many residents of our city are forced to live with as they navigate everyday life.”

EMERGING ARTIST IN PERFORMING ARTS GRANT

Alysia Therrien
Singer

Alysia will use the grant to create a cabaret-style performance showcasing 6 professional singers and performers called Windsor Singer Spotlight. The production will feature solo performances, duets and group numbers backed by live professional musicians.

LOIS SMEDICK EMERGING ARTIST IN VISUAL ARTS GRANT

Tristan Olivier Balmokune
Mixed Reality Content Architect

Olivier will use the grant to create Echoes of Windsor: A VR Time Capsule Experience. This pioneering art installation seeks to transform how community stories and digital heritage are preserved and experienced. This project intertwines the age-old tradition of memory preservation with the forefront of virtual reality technology, presenting a multi-layered journey into Windsor’s community spirit and soul.

COMMUNITY ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

The Creative Community Experience
8-week dramatic art workshop series

The Creative Community Experience Project is led by Theatre Artist Alice Nelson in partnership with Community Living Windsor. The grant funds will be used to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to unleash their creativity and develop original work through a variety of theatre styles.

Photo of Maggie Pinsonneault from Community Living Windsor

PERFORMING ARTS MUSIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

Abridged Opera
Opera Company

Abridged Opera will use the grant funds to celebrate their 10th anniversary by resurrecting their inaugural production of Puccini’s one-act opera, Suor Angelica.  

Photo of Erin Armstrong and Brianna DeSantis

PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

Revolution Youth Theatre
Theatre Company

Revolution Youth Theatre is a charitable organization offering youth ages 8 to 18 the opportunity to learn the ropes of onstage performing and be hands-on in all aspects of show production. They will use the grant funds towards the 4 productions planned for the 2024/25 season.

CAROLYNE ROURKE VISUAL ARTS INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

Christy Litster
Visual Artist and Instructor

Christy will use the grant funds towards The Creative Child Summer Camp and Mentorship Program to take place this summer at The Studio at Art Windsor-Essex.

MORRIS & BEVERLY BAKER FOUNDATION YOUTH GRANT IN THE ARTS

Sienna Pepper
Visual Artist and Writer

Sienna will be graduating from Tecumseh Vista Academy Secondary School. She will use the grant to pursue studies in the University of Windsor Concurrent Visual Arts Program.

ERIC JACKMAN YOUTH GRANT IN THE ARTS

Jamal Sghaier
Musician and Music Composer

Jamal will be graduating from Tecumseh Vista Academy Secondary School. He will use this grant to pursue the study of music at University of Windsor.

ELIZABETH HAVELOCK GRANT IN THE ARTS

Michael K. Potter
Writer, Performer, Managing Director of Post Productions theatre company, and co-owner/operator of The Shadowbox Theatre.

Michael will use the grant funds to cover pre-production expenses for (up)Staged, an 8-episode “mockumentary” comedy series collaboration between Post Productions theatre company and several leading filmmakers in Windsor-Essex.