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Mike Bennett's painting of The Rosenwald School that is part of his Artist Support Grant project.

Artist Support Grant recipient James (Mike) Bennett of Hamilton. Courtesy Mike Bennett

Artist Support Grant recipient Fay Davis Edwards of Manteo. Courtesy Fay Davis Edwards

Artist Support Grant recipient Laura Martier of Kitty Hawk. Courtesy Laura Martier

Artist Support Grant recipient Gary Mitchell of Ocracoke. Courtesy Gary Mitchell

Artist Support Grant recipient Christina Weisner of Kill Devil Hills. Courtesy Christina Weisner

Artist Support Grant recipient Alison Williams of Kill Devil Hills. Courtesy of Alison Williams

Six North Carolina artists were recently awarded Artist Support Grants that were made possible through a partnership between the North Carolina Arts Council, Pocosin Arts, Arts of the Pamlico, Dare County Arts Council and Martin County Arts Council.

A panel of artists, art professionals and experts in various disciplines selected six artists from a pool of applicants from Dare, Tyrrell, Washington, Martin, Beaufort and Hyde counties and awarded them grants ranging from $875 to $1,500.

2022 Artist Support Grant recipients are:
– James (Mike) Bennett, of Hamilton, for the development of civil rights illustrations.
– Fay Davis Edwards, of Manteo, for the purchase of caster mounted flat filing storage.
– Laura Martier, of Kitty Hawk, for studio time to record her recent jazz body of work.
– Gary Mitchell, of Ocracoke, for music and video production equipment.
– Christina Weisner, of Kill Devil Hills, to help offset the cost of the Arctic Circle residency.
– Alison Williams, of Kill Devil Hills, for the purchase of a kiln for her enamel work.

Bennett received an Artist Support Grant to create a series of paintings for an educational publication and community displays that will depict scenes from Martin County’s civil rights movement that occurred in Williamston.

“My project will create a chronological series of illustrations based on historical events that occurred in Williamston, NC during a time when segregation existed throughout our county,” said Bennett. “There are many people who are unaware of this part of Martin County’s history, and I hope my illustrations will tell the story of what these children and teens did during the summer of 1963. I also hope this project will benefit our county’s tourism, and provide information on this historical event at educational and community events.”

The Artist Support Grant program was created in 2020 by the North Carolina Arts Council as a way to assist individual artists during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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