Ballroom Marfa receives Artistic Innovation and Collaboration grant

NEW YORK – The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is pleased to announce that Ballroom Marfa is one of the recipients of its new Artistic Innovation and Collaboration grant program (AIC) to advance the values promoted by artist and activist Robert Rauschenberg during his lifetime and career.

The grant will support “Carbon 13,” a multi-disciplinary artistic investigation of issues related to climate change. Artist and project director David Buckland will work with participating artists Heather Ackroyd, Amy Balkin, Erika Blumenfeld, Antony Gormley, Dan Harvey and Cynthia Hopkins on developing new works, and these works will be presented in an exhibition in conjunction with public programs as part of The Marfa Dialogues.

In 2011, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation invited 65 arts organizations across the country to apply for the inaugural grant cycle. After a competitive application process, nine grants, totaling $800,000 were awarded to a diverse group of innovative projects.

“Ballroom Marfa is thrilled to be just one of nine organizations in the country to receive funding through this highly competitive grant,” says Director of Development JD DiFabbio. “We are proud to count the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation as our partner in bringing our cultural programs to fruition. The exhibition Carbon 13 and the symposium The Marfa Dialogues represent the truest realization of our founding mission to promote artistic expression and community engagement.”

Each $50,000 – $150,000 grant will enable cultural organizations to support fearless innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration by diverse artists.

The AIC grant program is the first national competitive grant program for the Foundation. It propels the organization’s philanthropic mission of cultivating, promoting, encouraging and supporting the production and exhibition of art.

This grant program is rooted in the defining characteristics of Bob’s legacy – fearlessness, innovative practice, cross-disciplinary exploration and collaboration among artists – and supports new work in a time when funding artistic experimentation is receding.

“We are delighted to be able to support projects that are pushing the boundaries of artistic practice and helping artists and cultural organizations investigate new territory,” said Christy MacLear, Executive Director of the Foundation.