LAFAYETTE, LA – Acadiana Center for the Arts announces a call for applications to the Courtney Granger Memorial award and the Jean Breaux award, both programs that support young artists, musicians, and other creatives in the advancement of their education.
Awards of up to $1000 are available for young artists for various artistic pursuits. Guidelines and applications for both awards can be submitted through the online applications at https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/opportunities-for-artists/ until March 31, 2023.
AcA Executive Director Samuel Olvier says, “We’ve seen young artists from this region—like Courtney Granger—leave a lasting legacy on the arts thanks to the support they have had from family and friends. We’re proud to make these awards available to any young person in Acadiana for generations to come.”
About the Courtney Granger Memorial Award –
Celebrating the memory of Courtney Granger—master fiddler, musician, and culture bearer—who passed away in 2021 at the age of 39. This memorial fund aims to raise $50,000 to permanently endow annual awards to young musicians in Courtney Granger’s memory.
Following his passing, Courtney’s friends and bandmates from The Pine Leaf Boys created a crowdfunding campaign to help defray funeral costs for Courtney’s family. Courtney’s parents generously donated the remainder of those funds to the AcA to seed this fund.
Donations to the Fund will be re-granted annually beginning in 2023 through the Courtney Granger Memorial Award, administered by AcA.
The Courtney Granger Memorial Award provides young musicians in Acadiana an opportunity to apply for financial assistance to attend local and national camps for traditional music, provide mentors for private and small group music lessons, and instruments or instrument repairs to aspiring traditional musicians — all opportunities that were so very important to Courtney.
About the Jean Breaux Award –
The Jean Breaux Award is a grant program administered by the AcA for high school and college students in the 8-parish region of Acadiana including Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
This program provides financial support to practicing young artists who are interested in enhancing their skills through participation in advanced study beyond what is available in their present school curriculum.
Recognized arts disciplines for this program are performing arts, visual arts, dance, folklife, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and arts administration.
Eligible applicants include high school and college students planning to pursue a career or professional training opportunity in any of the eligible arts disciplines, or arts administration. A student must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Louisiana living in Acadiana with an overall GPA of a “B” or higher on their high school or college transcripts.
More information, including guidelines and submission portal are available on the AcA’s website at:
acadianacenterforthearts.org/opportunities-for-artists/courtney-granger-memorial-award
and
acadianacenterforthearts.org/opportunities-for-artists/jean-breaux-award/
