Fairfield Cultural Alliance awards minigrants

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Cultural Alliance presented grants to five local arts and history organizations Wednesday, part of its annual minigrant disbursement.

Once again, the organization had to forego its networking and awards gala that normally accompanies the grant distribution. FCA member Denyce Rusch said the pandemic forced the group to suspend its in-person awards gala in 2020, and FCA has not been able to hold one since.

“It takes organization and work,” Rusch said. “This year, I’ve been more consumed with our business, and have not had time to spend on it. In 2023, we hope to renew our networking gala downtown.”

This year, the five minigrants were distributed during a ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Fairfield Food Collective, which is owned by Rusch and her husband Eric, as well as her son Galen and his wife, Liza.

Rusch commented that in addition to the five minigrants given out in 2022, the FCA also presented a small grant from the Fairfield First Foundation to Werner Elmker for his “countless volunteer hours of effort as an unofficial Town Photographer for Fairfield,” Rusch said.

“His work continues to be appreciated for its beauty and use as historical records and marketing by arts and history organizations and individuals throughout the county,” she added.

Rusch said the FCA is making a special push to attract more members and volunteers to help with its work on behalf of Fairfield’s cultural and entertainment district. Those who are interested are encouraged to email fairfieldculturalalliance@gmail.com.

“All are welcome to participate and keep our arts, entertainment, and history thriving,” Rusch said.

The FCA supplied the following summary of the five minigrant recipients and how they will use their grant:

Fairfield Art Association — Suzan Kessel

With the FCA grant, the Fairfield Art Association can rebuild their website on a modern framework and update and improve the look and feel of the site. It is important for the Fairfield Art Association to keep their exhibit schedule, information on their classes, special events, and art opportunities available at all times. The current older website that continues to crash was built for desktop computers. The new websites need to be mobile responsive and work with all device sizes, especially cellphones. The FAA was formed in 1966 to foster art in Fairfield and the surrounding area. It offers art classes, monthly exhibits in the Main Gallery and a permanent collection in the Corridor Gallery of the Fairfield Art & Convention Center.

Fairfield Farmers Market — Deanna Julsen, represented by Steve McLaskey

The funds will be used to compensate the local performers who provide live music at the Saturday Farmers Market, May through October. Music enhances the experience, creates an uplifting atmosphere, and attracts more customers. The Farmers Market's main purpose is to increase the residents’ access to locally grown nutritious food. The market helps stimulate the local economy, supports a healthy community, and promotes sustainability.

Iowa Contemporary Art, ICON — Bill Teeple

ICON is in need of ink cartridges and presentation-quality paper for their 13" X 19” printer. This makes it possible to produce high quality reproductions of artworks. The production of art prints, calendars, and posters are an ongoing expense for advertising and promotion of exhibits and events at the gallery. ICON has had the reputation for over 20 years as an exhibitor of the highest level of regional contemporary art with regular offerings of art related videos and educational programs.

Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee — Tony Webb

This grant will help pay for five mural sketches of draft horses in action. The mural, when complete, will be placed on the East side of the Centennial building at the Maasdam Barns. The goal is to depict several scenes showing typical work done by Draft Horses. The Maasdam Barns site is a Historical Venue in Fairfield located next to the Jefferson County Health Center. On the site, there are three livestock barns that are listed on the National Historic Registry. The Barns and the exhibits show early farm life of the Maasdam family while they were nationally known Draft Horse Breeders along with machinery from the Louden Manufacturing company and Turney Wagon Company, historic farm machinery producers in Fairfield.

The Thirsty Word — Meredith Siemsen

The FCA grant will be used to pay for the rental cost of an indoor event space. The colder months are not amenable to gatherings in Petra Park, their outdoor venue near the downtown square. The Thirsty Word reading series has been providing monthly public readings for area writers to share creative efforts, and for the audiences to immerse themselves in the live performance of the original literary work. The event has enjoyed participation from hundreds of Jefferson County residents as well as guest writers and audience members from Iowa City, Coralville, Washington and Grinnell. The Thirsty Word was sponsored by the Fairfield Public Library for their grant application.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com