Calling all Queens artists: Do you want $10k?

Omar Edwards and Yogi “Y?” Guyadin perform at a showcase for QCA-funded artists in July. Eagle photo by Victoria Merlino.

By Victoria Merlino

Do you have what it takes to make a masterpiece? And do you want $10,000 to do it?

The Queens Council on the Arts is calling on Queens-based choreographers, playwrights and composers to apply to its Artist Commissioning Program, which will award $10,000 to selected recipients who create works.

The Artist Commissioning Program “democratizes the traditional commissioning process, which has historically been reserved for a privileged few,” QCA states on its website. This year, artists will be selected from Flushing, Ridgewood and Maspeth, as QCA seeks to empower voices who have untold stories.

The program is split into two components: art commissioners and artists. The 14 Art commissioners are selected by QCA from the Queens community to then “commission” artists for the program, and support them as they create a work with the $10,000 award. Commissioners can come from any facet of the community, and do not need to be involved in the art world to apply.  

Artists can apply to have their projects selected and funded, with four artists receiving $40,000 total.  

Artworks selected for this year’s program included a play exploring victimhood through the lens gun violence, a choreographed work about the criminal justice system and an album. 

The deadline to apply to be a commissioner is Oct. 14, and the deadline to be an artist is Nov. 14. 

To apply, visit queenscouncilarts.org.