Creative Support for Individuals-Round 1

Daniela Bianchini: Daniela is a self employed, full time, public artist. She is passionate about helping other artist find the means to express themselves and create. She has previously reviewed grant applications for several agencies and enjoys the process. She worked as a legal assistant for many years while building her artistic career. She is now able to dedicate herself to her art practice on a full time basis and also gives back to the community while teaching community ed classes. ; Tori Boyer: Tori Boyer is a community organizer, educator, and a mother to children with Autism. Boyer uses music, visual arts, dance, theater, storytelling and food (the art of cooking) to teach accessible and cultural activities for youth and community. Boyer has experience serving on advisory boards, like the Minnesota Governor's Council and committees focused on reducing gun violence, has been a longtime volunteer with organizations such as Pacer and NAMI Minnesota and soon to be a volunteer with Juxtaposition Arts. Boyer currently manages public relations for the Multicultural Kids Network, nonprofit organization that provides support and information to American families raising their children with a limited access to African culture and community in Brooklyn Center. Boyer graduated with a degree in Horticulture through a pilot program from the University of Minnesota and is currently enrolled at Minneapolis College.; Annika Hansen: Annika Hansen (they/she) is a dance artist, teacher, and administrator based in Minneapolis. They work on independent dance projects, most recently for the Euphoria Festival hosted by Art to Change the World, the Walker Art Center's Free Thursdays, and ARENA DANCES 2021 Candy Box Dance Festival. They also work as an administrative assistant and box office staff at Artistry, a nonprofit arts organization in Bloomington. Previously, Annika worked as a dance instructor at Prairie School of Dance. They graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BFA in Dance. ; Lisa Horton: Horton is an assistant professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Born and raised near Grand Rapids, she trained as a pianist in her youth, attended Itasca Community College for a year, then complete her BA in English at what is now the University of Northwestern St. Paul, being involved in both choral music and theater there. She worked extensively in the theater scene in the Twin Cities for nearly a decade before moving to Duluth to take an MA at UMD. She has a PhD in English (Medieval literature) from Western Michigan University, and has been teaching at UMD since 2011. Horton has had her jewelry work displayed in various galleries across northern Minnesota, and has performed as a musician and singer very occasionally, notably with the AOL Chorus at Carnegie Hall in November of 1997.; Valerie Williams: Williams completed her MFA in directing at Baylor University (Waco, TX) in May 2020. Before that, Williams served as grants writer for the Great River Shakespeare Festival and Winona Area Public Schools. She also directed the Winona Senior High drama program. Williams began her theater career as an AEA stage manager with Illusion and Mixed Blood theaters in Minneapolis, and Theatre du Mississippi in Winona. Williams has presented at Texas Educational Theatre, Mid-America Theatre, Comparative Drama, and Association for Theatre in Higher Education conferences. She has been published in the Texas Theatre Journal and the Asian Theatre Journal.; Stanton Wood: Stanton Wood, St Paul, Stanton is a playwright, screenwriter, and narrative game designer. He was a member of Workhaus Playwrights Collective, and served on the Board of NEMAA. His plays are published by Playscripts and Original Works, he was Creative Director at Zoesis Interactive Animation Studios for seven years. He has an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University.; Bruce Young: Bruce A Young, Minneapolis, MN, Bruce is one of the founding members of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, now in it's 30th year. His career expands all of the theatrical genres, and he has been fortunate enough to be critically recognized in every discipline. He holds a Masters degree from Illinois State University, and is currently enjoying retirement with his granddaughter!