New Cohort of Catalyze Fellows Announced as Program Reaches 31 Arkansas Counties
By Elizabeth Snell
Third cohort of artists each receive $10,000 unrestricted funding and mentorship
Twenty-five artists in Central Arkansas and the Arkansas Delta have each been awarded $10,000 practice-based fellowships to support their creative work through Catalyze, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. Through a competitive application process, the award recipients represent artists and cultural workers working in a wide range of artistic disciplines from filmmaking to furniture-making to voice acting.
“Catalyze is built on the belief that artists deserve the time, space, and support to pursue their work on their own terms,” said Diane Scott, director of artist services at Mid-America Arts Alliance. “This year, we’re especially proud to expand the program’s reach to 31 counties across Central Arkansas and the Arkansas Delta—bringing more voices and more perspectives together. Each of these artists is making a meaningful impact in their community, and this fellowship fuels that momentum.”
Meet the third cohort of award recipients:
Andrew Myers (Bryant, AR)
Ashley Hood (North Little Rock, AR)
Brenda Morgan (Dardanelle, AR)
Bryan Borland (North Little Rock, AR)
Courtney Bennett Baker (Little Rock, AR)
Dallas Martinez (Jonesboro, AR)
Emma Estelle Chambers (Little Rock, AR)
Erin Wood (Little Rock, AR)
Faye Duncan-Daniel (Helena, AR)
Tyler Lewis (White Hall, AR)
Jalache Davis (Little Rock, AR)
Joel Boyd (Little Rock, AR)
Khem K. Aryal (Jonesboro, AR)
Mattius Yohance (Little Rock, AR)
Myriam Saavedra (Little Rock, AR)
Paige Martin Reynolds (Little Rock, AR)
Paige Murphy (Little Rock, AR)
Patrice Bax (Little Rock, AR)
Penn Davis (Hensley, AR)
Raeden Greer (Benton, AR)
Stacey Bowers (North Little Rock, AR)
Stephen Koch (Little Rock, AR)
Todd Belin (Little Rock, AR)
Tom Dempster (Hot Springs, AR)
Zina Al-Shukri (Little Rock, AR)
Read full biographies here.
Catalyze, funded by the Windgate Foundation, is designed to combine financial support with professional development and coaching, helping artists grow their practices and ignite their careers. These practice-based grants are unrestricted and can be used for any purpose that supports the continued development of their creative practice including, but not limited to, equipment, travel, studio space, and child care.
This year, the program expanded its reach, offering the opportunity across 31 Arkansas counties, up from 16 counties in previous cycles. The additional counties now include 15 from the Arkansas Delta region. Creatives from Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Greene, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Perry, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, St. Francis, Van Buren, White, and Yell were eligible to apply.
Through the application process, 25 artists were selected from 267 applications on the basis of their artistry, intended use and impact of the funding in their practice, and the creation of a balanced peer cohort.
“As federal funding shrinks and the future of our national cultural institutions is uncertain, grant programs like these are more critical than ever,” adds Scott. “Art doesn’t exist without artists—and artists rely on the trust and support of their communities. This kind of funding fuels not only creativity, it drives local economies. It is an investment in art, artists, and the very vitality of our communities.”
Applications for the next cycle of awards are open October 1 to December 1, 2025.
For additional grant information, please visit maaa.org/catalyze.
About Catalyze
Catalyze is made possible through a grant from the Windgate Foundation, Little Rock, Arkansas. Since 2009, M-AAA has offered cohort-based professional development opportunities to more than 450 artists in central Arkansas through its Artist INC Live and Artist INC Express programs through support from the Windgate Foundation. Interested in bringing the Catalyze program to your community? Contact artistservices@maaa.org for more information.
About the Windgate Foundation
The Windgate Foundation was established in 1993 and is a private, family foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Windgate’s goal is to advance contemporary craft and strengthen visual arts education in the United States. The foundation also supports children and youth in the State of Arkansas. Additional information can be found at www.windgatefoundation.org.
About Mid-America Arts Alliance
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) partners with and supports artists, organizations, and communities to grow access to the arts, culture, and creativity throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. To learn more about M-AAA grants, programs, exhibitions, and fellowships, visit www.maaa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, and LinkedIn.