Rasmuson Foundation honors UAA alumni and faculty with artist awards

The Rasmuson Foundation announced this year’s recipients of the annual Individual Artist Awards. Twenty-five artists, including five UAA alumni, will receive project awards of $7,500. Ten artists, including one alumna and three faculty members, will receive $18,000 fellowships. One artist, photographer James Barker, will receive the $40,000 Distinguished Artist award, recognizing creative excellence and artistic achievements in a career spanning several decades.

Congratulations to all the award recipients, including the following members of the UAA family:

Fellowships

Adriana Latonio (B.M. Music ’20, A.A. General Program ’19), soprano, Anchorage
Jill Flanders Crosby (Department of Theatre and Dance professor), multidiscipline, Eagle River
Tamara McCoy (Department of Music), presentation/interpretation, Anchorage
Alanna DeRocchi (Department of Art), visual arts, Anchorage

Project Awards

Beth Blankenship (B.F.A. Art ’98), crafts, Anchorage
Michael Conti (B.F.A. Art ’01) media arts, Anchorage
Michele Kawahine Danner (A.A. General Program ’19), multidiscipline, Utqiagvik
Andrea Hackbarth (M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’16), literary arts, Palmer
Janissa Johnson (B.B.A. Management ’07) folk and traditional arts, Larsen Bay

Now in its 19th year, the Individual Artist Awards program supports arts and culture by putting money directly into the hands of artists. It is one of several grant programs and initiatives managed by the Rasmuson Foundation to promote a better life for Alaskans. Learn more at rasmuson.org.