Since November 2018, the YoungArts Microgrants program distributes thousands of dollars monthly to support YoungArts winners with expenses related to professional or artistic development, including travel expenses to a residency, registration fees for a conference or class, the purchase of equipment, studio rental fees, and more. Since 2020, we have also offered emergency Microgrants to any artist experiencing loss of income.
Whether you were a YoungArts winner in 1981 or 2026, both creative and emergency microgrants are open to award winners who have registered and completed a profile on YoungArts Post. Learn more about Microgrants here.
Read on to meet several Microgrant recipients and learn about their projects.
Anya Jiménez (2022 Theater, Writing)
Anya Jiménez is a writer, director and performer based in Los Angeles, CA. Anya received a $3,000 microgrant from YoungArts to support her short film, Puro Trokiando. Check out the video below to learn more about Anya’s project.
“I think to tell this story that is about joy and a celebration of this culture is really really meaningful to me. To have the YoungArts team believe in me and this project really means a lot to me. It’s just such a full circle beautiful moment.”
Alyssa Ackerman (2015 Visual Arts)
Alyssa Ackerman is a Wisconsin-based fiber artist whose work explores themes of softness and joy through a variety of fiber arts processes, with an emphasis on weaving. Alyssa uses a floor loom to hand weave both functional and decorative goods with an emphasis on color and pattern. Alyssa runs an art business called Two Block Design which creates a range of artwork, home decor, and practical objects. Alyssa received a microgrant to purchase a Glimakra Table Warping Reel and a Leclerc Warping Paddle for fiber art to expand her business and work as an artist full time.
“Before getting this grant, I could only wind nine yards at a time. And so now I can wind 30 yards at a time. So I can make projects that are basically three times as long as I could before, which has really sped up the process for me.”
Carlos Cepeda Gomez (2020 Design)
Carlos Cepeda Gomez is an architect and visual artist from Venezuela based between Miami, FL and St. Louis, MO. They received a microgrant for the Waterfront Alliance’s Water Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) certification to improve their technical, community engagement and planning skills to design equitable, just and climate-resilient waterfronts. WEDG is centered around giving the public access to meaningful, resilient and engaging waterfronts while also improving local waterways’ ecosystems and habitats. The certifications centers around making more resilient infrastructure and cities.
“I became interested in water and water resiliency after collaborating as an architect with a team from Earth Architecture Lab doing an Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) housing proposal for the United Nations’ international Organization for Migration in Somalia where our mudbrick proposal involved material sourcing, education, and water management to create wholesome and sustainable solutions for displaced communities within Somalia.”
Andrea Ramirez Romo (2023 Film)
Andrea Ramirez Romo is a producer and director based in Los Angeles, CA and currently a freshman studying Creative Producing at Chapman University. She frequently produces commercials in the LA fashion scene for brands such as Pinup Rags and MoojiMooji, as well as award winning shorts. She received a microgrant to purchase a laptop, which has provided her with the opportunity to engage in multiple new projects.
“Having my own laptop completely changed the game in regards to my freedom and being able to pursue work and school without any barriers. I’ve been able to work on so many projects because of this now, from producing commercials, editing films for class, and even event coordinating a popup event for a clothing brand!”