My name is Marissa Neave, and tinygrants is my undergraduate thesis project for Criticism and Curatorial Practice at the Ontario College of Art and Design, supervised by Jessica Wyman and Esther Choi. My project will be composed of three primary elements:
- researching art practice, microfinance and funding policy in Canada
- distributing small grants to successful applicants and examining the impact of their interventions
- coordinating the production of catalogue and results-focused website
Mission Statement
An experiment in microfunding for the arts, tinygrants facilitates short term, creative interventions through the distribution of small grants to Toronto-based artists at any stage in their career. tinygrants promotes collaboration, participation, curiosity and awareness amongst a broad range of artists and audiences.
Impetus
The general aim of tinygrants is to enable artists’ creative interventions through the distribution of small, non-renewable grants. Because student-artists, artists with small-budget projects, and non-artists are not eligible to apply for project funding from formal granting bodies available to Toronto individuals, tinygrants enables these groups to realize their short-term and low-cost projects.
Spirit of Experimentation and Collaboration
I am interested in organizing and facilitating tinygrants as an experiment in microfinance. I don’t claim to know what makes a microfinancing program in the arts work, or that one even could work. I’m just interested in trying it out, giving artists some money to cover the costs of their projects, and putting it all together as an overview of what is possible. tinygrants will likely augment and change over the next seven months in collaboration with those interested in participating. Keep an eye on the blog for progress and research updates.
About Marissa Neave
Marissa Neave is an emerging writer and curator studying Criticism and Curatorial Practice at the Ontario College of Art and Design, where she is currently completing her thesis year. Her special interest in exploring the relationships between people, space and art emerged during her time as the Co-Publisher and Creative Director of Inside Mississauga, a bi-monthly magazine about art, culture and entertainment.
With a background in media, writing, and graphic design, Neave approaches art from a multitude of practices, perspectives and strategies. She currently works as the Communications and Programming Assistant at YYZ Artists’ Outlet in Toronto.
tinygrants is Neave’s undergraduate thesis project for Criticism and Curatorial Practice at the Ontario College of Art and Design and is supervised by Jessica Wyman and Esther Choi.
