Artist Initiative
Artist Initiative
Watson will use grant funds to promote her fifth published children's book, "Best Friends in the Universe," and write three to five new picture book manuscripts.
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Member of the Smithsonian National Board. Former chair of the board, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Officer at -Large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse, Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.
Ashley Benites: Novelist, writing instructor, Arts Board grantee; Victoria Blanco: Writer and teaching artist; Arts Board grantee; Karlyn Coleman: Writer; teaching artist at the Loft; Arts Board grantee; Shannon Gibney: Author and activist; teaches in English department at MCTC; Margaret Newman: Writer and teacher; Arts Board grantee; Matthew Ryan: Writer, English professor at Concordia St. Paul; Arts Board grantee; Michele Valenti: Writer, winner of Loft Mentor Series in fiction
ACHF Arts Access
Promote Best Friends in the Universe to build awareness of the book and encourage sales, which helps to secure my future as an author and speaker. I'll deem this aspect of my grant project successful if the events are well attended and I sell a reasonable quantity of books. 2: Write 3- five new picture book texts. While it would be great to sell of them, even selling one or two would help secure my future as a children's author. I'll be successful if I end 2018 with 3-5 submittable manuscripts. My critique group and agent will help me judge when the manuscripts are ready for submission.
Through a variety of public events, Stephanie promoted Best Friends in the Universe, which helped to build awareness of the book and encourage sales. All of the events were well-attended, and book sales are satisfactory. 2: During the grant period, I wrote four new picture book texts. Three manuscripts are currently out on submission, and one sale is pending. I closed out 2018 with four manuscripts that I and my critique group agree are ready for submission.