VA L E R I E M C K E N N A Art
A N D R E W J O R G E N S E N Film and Video Studies
FOSTERING THE
CREATION OF NEW WORK In 2019, the College of Visual and Performing Arts proudly launched the Young Alumni Commissioning Project—a new initiative through which CVPA provides grants to alumni for the creation of original work. The project offers crucial support to recent alumni so they can continue their artistic development. It is made possible by a generous bequest from Linda E. Gramlich and by donors to Mason’s Giving Day, including Shugoll Research. Recipients of the Young Alumni Commissioning Project are selected through an application process that evaluates criteria such as artistic excellence, career impact, and feasibility. The chosen alumni are awarded up to $5,000 in commissioning funds, which can be used at their discretion to cover projectrelated expenses such as artist and licensing fees, equipment rental/purchase, and travel expenses. In addition, recipients receive venue, production, and marketing support for the public showing of the work at one of Mason’s venues.
Z A C H A R Y W I L C OX , S C H O O L O F
“ Emerging artists always have more ideas than resources; they need the precious gifts of time, materials, and space to explore their work.” Rick Davis, CVPA Dean
The inaugural cohort of Young Alumni Commissioning Project awardees included Zachary Wilcox from the School of Theater, who received support for the new play, Tangier Island is Sinking. A staged reading of Zachary’s work took place in April 2020 as part of the Mason Arts at Home digital series. School of Art’s Valerie McKenna was the recipient of a grant to develop and mount a photography exhibition in August 2019 at Mason’s Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery. The third grantee was Andrew Jorgensen from Film and Video Studies, who created and produced the film, The Sun and the Medicine Man.
T H E AT E R A LU M N U S , R E C E I V E D S U P P O R T F O R T H E N E W P L AY TA N G I E R I S L A N D I S S I N K I N G
CVPA 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT 12
