Creative Washtenaw awards $2,500 grants to four local artists

Ann Arbor, Michigan – Four Washtenaw County creatives were awarded $2,500 by Creative Washtenaw to support their work in the community.

Each grant recipient was randomly selected from a group of 25 candidates within the county by Creative Washtenaw Board Chair Tina Walther.

All honorees use their art and skills to strengthen local arts through a racially focused lens and work with “priority populations.”

Funding for the award was provided by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. The foundation defines “priority populations” as groups with specific demographics, such as location, income level, gender, race or ethnicity, income or sexual orientation.

Information about each awardee is as follows.

Chris Keller | Ann Arbor

• Keller works with the Washtenaw County rock band Black Note Graffiti, creating music with themes of identity, resilience and empowerment, breaking into a genre that is largely dominated by white men.

Thor Sigurdsson | Ann Arbor

• Sigurdson, whose cello career spans 35 years, teaches at Tree Town and often lends his instrument to students as needed. He brings his music to Washtenaw County churches to unite residents and break down cultural barriers.

Rachel Keown | Chelsea

• In addition to being a playwright, Keown also directs, stars in, and develops new plays around difficult topics such as mental health, gender roles, and rape.

thomas robertson ypsilanti

• Robertson, a Detroit native, uses his art to uplift black culture and encourage audiences to examine racial prejudice. His work is on display at the Riverside Art Center in Ypsilanti during Black History Month.

The grants were awarded to the winners during Morning 'Til Night's Creative Washtenaw Happy Hour at The Owl in Milan, Michigan in April.