Reflections of Artist Grant Program Year One

As our first annual Artist Grants Program slowly comes to a close, I am reflecting on these five amazing artists and how they helped LSC grow and helped this program grow and change to be better for our second cohort! James, Rissa, Hakeem, Briana, Josh - Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

We learned so much from our first cohort - how to provide a variety of experiences for artists experiencing individual challenges, how to support without adding stress, how to provide $200/month in a UBI- form while also providing any resources/mentoring that was needed. My favorite aspect of this cohort was how each individual artist used the funds and our support in their own way.

I can look at Hakeem - a father of two who was able to use the funds to support his already successful music career. Briana - a musician struggling with a vocal nodule diagnosis who was able to take more rest and heal her voice before returning to music. Josh - a musician new to the area who gained a sense of community through LSC while also using the funds to work less side jobs and focus on music. James- a father who made a huge comeback in the Rochester area while working full-time at a non-profit. Rissa- a young musician who blossomed before our eyes, working weekly events with children, and performing multiple shows of her own.

Testimonials from the Artists:

"Since transitioning into fatherhood, back into heavily pursuing music, and the raising of my bills, this grant has helped me financially get over the hump and provide for unforeseen expenses, bills in general and music equipment I never I’d own in the window of time of acquiring."

-James Kegler, MF SKUM

"I believe in a UBI already. Or some support for those in need. It works because people need money to survive, and this ensures a small handful of people are getting that extra help and, in turn, surviving. In a world where people go hungry and homeless all the time, you can’t put a price on that kind of peace of mind and help, no matter how small."

-Briana Horton

 To me, this cohort exemplified the beauty of a UBI based program, where the money can be used with no strings attached if that would benefit the artist, or the artist can dive head first into the collaborative. As we say, you get out of it what you put into it. 

As we prepare to welcome our second cohort of musicians, I hope they can learn from our first cohort. Here’s to year two!

Aubrey Baldauf, LMSW

Program Director

aubrey@thelocalsoundcollaborative.org