2019 Champion of Artists Awardee Spotlight: Blair Benjamin
As we lead up to 13th Annual “Artists Under The Dome” Event and the MALC 2019 “Champion of Artists” Awards on November 18, 2019, at the State House, we are highlighting each of the five “Champion of Artists” awardees. This post is highlighting Blair Benjamin.
This is the fourth time MALC has given these awards, which will be part of the morning program. The award ceremony will begin at 11:00am in the State House’s Great Hall, located on the second floor. The ceremony, along with all the events that are part of the annual Artists Under the Dome event, are free and open to the public. Although it is not required, we are urging people to register for the event. For more information and to register: http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/annualevent.htm
This year’s awardees in alphabetical order:
- Blair Benjamin – Fiction Writer, Director of MASS MoCA’s Studio Residency Program and Founder & Director of Assets for Artists (A4A)
- Kay Bourne – Journalist, Editor, and Educator
- Greg Liakos – Writer, Journalist and former Director of Communications and External Relations for the Mass Cultural Council (This award is given in memory of State Representative Chris Walsh)
- Abe Rybeck – Playwright, Organizational Consultant, and Founder of The Theater Offensive (TTO)
- Lisa Simmons – Filmmaker, Director and Curator of the Roxbury Film Festival, and Founder of the Color of Film Collaborative (This award is given in memory of MALC Co-Founder Liora Beer)
Blair Benjamin is based in Western part of the Commonwealth and he has been creating opportunities for Massachusetts artists of all disciplines via his dual roles at MassMoCA.
His visionary work as the founder and director of Assets for Artists (A4A) has opened needed doors and has empowered artists of all disciplines. The program does the following: “Assets for Artists provides professional development workshops, financial and business coaching, working capital grants and micro-loan referrals, artist residencies at MASS MoCA, and support for artists re-locating to North Adams, Massachusetts.”
Likewise, the MASS MoCA’s residency program he runs provides needed short term residences for artists and writers. MALC is extremely thankful for the work Blair does to support our community on so many levels.
Profile: Blair Benjamin
Blair Benjamin joined MASS MoCA in 2000, and has worn many hats at the museum: Director of Development; Director of Real Estate & Community Development; Associate Director of the Center for Creative Community Development; Developer of Alternative Energy Projects; and his current roles serving as Founder/Director of the Assets for Artists (A4A) professional development program and the Studios at MASS MoCA residency program. As Director of Assets for Artists, Blair has overseen the planning, funding, and selection of capacity-building mini-grants for 400+ artists in 5 states, totaling more than $700,000, as well as the recruitment and support of 15 artist-trainers with various subject matter specialties, providing more than 75 professional development workshops for 1,000+ artists across Massachusetts. He has also co-taught the A4A Financial Bootcamp training to more than 400 artists since 2008, and has provided one-on-one financial and business coaching sessions to more than 600 artists in the past decade. He lives in Williamstown, MA.