Frick Arts Foundation announces cash awards for upcoming and breakout artists in Austin, Texas. The first annual awards of $1000 each were granted to ten artists in October. 2024 awards were given to Alan Aguilera, Mac Benson, Jasmine Chock, Kristine Fernandez, Ariana Gomez, Julio Martinez, Fabiana Munoz, Temitope Olujobi, Jessica Rea and Joy Scanlon.

This year’s nominations and jury were led by influencers of the Austin alternative arts scene. Kira McCool, co-founder of Good Luck, Have Fun gallery, Emily Lee, Founder of All the Sudden, and Tiffany K Smith, curator and active contributor to Concept Animals.

“Collectors, gallerists and curators are smart to keep an eye on these artists” said Kevin Ivester, director of Frick Arts Foundation, and owner of Ivester Contemporary. “Austin has a lot of talent beginning to burst onto the cultural conversation of this city.”

The Frick Arts Foundation was formed this year explicitly to support the growing Austin visual arts community and offer emotional encouragement to artists at the most difficult early stage of their careers. The awards have no strings attached, no applications, with 10 surprise awards granted every year.

“We believe every artist contributes a unique voice to our city.” Said Laurie Frick, Data Artist and director of Frick Arts Foundation. “Through our small grants program, of $1000 each, we encourage artists to push their art forward and enhance the artistic diversity that makes Austin a city we love.”

In an unusual move, Frick Arts Foundation was founded in 2024 without massive donations or huge expectations of fund-raising with the belief that smaller amounts of cash and a handful of people with a good eye for talent could make a difference. “All of us has experienced that moment in our lives when a bit of encouragement gave us a huge boost” said Mark Frick, director of Frick Arts Foundation. “You don’t need to be a billionaire to support the arts community in Austin, regular people can do it too.”

For more information about the Frick Arts Foundation and its initiatives, please visit https://www.frickartsfoundation.com/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/frickartsfoundation/

About Frick Arts Foundation
Established in 2024, Frick Arts Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to supporting the vibrant yet often unseen artistic talents within our community. Our mission is to discover, nurture, and promote underappreciated artists in Austin, Texas, by providing them with the financial support and public recognition they deserve. https://www.frickartsfoundation.com/