We are honored to announce the recipients of our 2021 Arc Artist Fellowship!

The 2021 Fellows are:
Diego Binuya, Multi-media artist
Mikhail Calliste, Dancer Artist, Maker
Monyee Chau, Storyteller, Visual Artist
Joyee Runninghawk, Visual Artist
Kayla Stokes, Storyteller, Director, Aural Producer
Saiyana Suzumura, Visual Artist, Clothing Designer

The Arc Artist Fellowship provides critical—but rare—unrestricted awards of $12,000 to artists residing in King County. This year we received 37 highly competitive applications from King County artists working in dance, music, theater, media, literature, and the visual arts.

Executive Brian J. Carter says: “I would like to offer my congratulations to the 2021 Arc Artist Fellows. This accomplished group of young artists, storytellers, makers, and designers represent the broad and representational plurality of voices that are essential to our collective cultural health. During these trying times, it is more important than ever that we center voices that offer necessary and differing points of views that allow us to imagine a better future.”

Each year, a new cohort of Arc Fellows are selected, with an eligibility requirement that changes annually. This year, eligible applicants were artists between the ages of 18 and 25 who create artwork that examines and challenges structures of power in the fight for social justice.

Art has the power to be a catalyst for systemic change. We seek to celebrate and support young artist activists who are creating courageous work that moves us and makes us move. Often under-resourced and under-recognized, these artists are revealing and presenting paths to equity.

Arc Fellows will assist in determining the Arc Eligibility Requirement for next year’s fellowship as well as participate in a public cohort presentation organized by 4Culture and in planning and community engagement for the 2022 program.

Marketing support has been identified as a top priority for today’s working artist. The Arc Artist Fellowship will provide the Fellows with a page on the 4Culture website to use for promotional purposes, featuring images and links to explore their work.

Congratulations to Diego, Mikhail, Monyee, Joyee, Kayla, and Saiyana! Stay tuned to learn more about the 2021 Arc Fellows and how you can connect with their work.