ACHF Funded Projects 2024 Round 1

2024 Round 1 grant recipients and funded projects

Forty-six applications totalling approximately $188,000 in requested funding were received and adjudicated by our jury for the first round of funding in 2024. We are pleased to announce that seventeen of these projects – twelve grants to individuals, and five grants to organizations – have received ACHF funding in the total amount of $59,000. We extend our congratulations to the following:

Rawad Kansoun. $5,000. Parallel (working title). Funding for artist fees and productions costs for a film.

Batool Yahya. $5,000. HeArt from the Streets. Funding for artist fees, venue, supplies and promotion for a visual arts exhibition and event.

Sarah Smitherman. $5,000. Flowering Plants of Ojibway and Surrounding Areas, Part 2. Funding for artist fees, design and layout, and framing and installation for an arts exhibition and corresponding book.

Teajai Travis. $5,000. A Blaze of Story – Season 2. Funding for artist fees and production costs for a storytelling series and corresponding podcast.

Kristen Siapas. $4,960. Jazz in the Park. Funding for artist fees, venue, and promotion for an outdoor jazz performance series.

Maryam Safarzadeh. $4,462. Persian Village Art Group. Funding for artist fees, artisans, and promotion of a multicultural mixed-genre art festival.

Jamie Greer. $4,000. The History of Pro Wrestling in Windsor, Ontario. Funding for photo licensing, publishing costs, and a book launch for the next phase of a literary arts and local history project.

Kevin Blondin. $3,900. THIS is DRAG Showcase Event Series. Funding for artist fees and production costs for a monthly drag showcase.

Arts Collective Theatre - ACT. $3,500. ACT’s 10th Anniversary production of RENT. Funding for artist fees, videographer, and rental items for a theatre production.

Valerie Bonasso. $3,350. Windsor’s History: A New Musical. Funding for artist and producer fees for libretto and score composition for an original stage musical.

Windsor Optimist Youth Band. $3,325. 2024 Band Camp and Spring Concert. Funding for artist fees and venue for a band camp and community spring concert.

Gujarati Samaj of Windsor. $3,058. Ardh Shatabdi Mahotsav. Funding for production costs, venue, materials, and promotion of a multicultural musical production.

John-Paul Bonadonna. $3,000. Leave Those Kids Alone album. Funding for production, mixing, and mastering of an album of original music.

Jo Taylor. $2,725. Community Connexions. Funding for artist fees and production costs for a choral music series across the community with the Windsor Community Choir.

Abridged Opera. $1,500. Suor Angelica. Funding for artist fees for soloist and musicians for an opera celebrating the organization’s 10th anniversary.

Adam Bergamin. $800. Regency Cabaret. Funding for artist fees, costumes, props, and accessories for a drag performing arts project for seniors.

Greater Windsor Concert Band (GWCB). $420. GWCB Spring Concert 2024. Funding for concert venue rental for a live concert band/symphonic concert.

“For the third year in a row, $118,000 will be awarded to individuals and organizations through the City’s ACHF program, helping us to build on Windsor’s proud history of investment in our creative community," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. "The results of the program speak for themselves, with over $1 million in funding awarded to just over 450 innovative projects since the program launched. The ACHF program is one of many components of Council’s overall significant investment in arts, culture and heritage in Windsor. On behalf of City Council, congratulations to the funding recipients in this round. Thank you for the work that you do in our community. Thanks, also, to our volunteer jurors for evaluating the applications and being of service to the creative community. We look forward to seeing these new projects come to life in Windsor!”

Rawad Kansoun Sarah Smitherman Teajai Travis Maryam Safarzadeh Jamie Greer Kevin Blondin ACT - Arts Collective Theatre Windsor Optimist Youth Band Gujarati Samaj of Windsor John-Paul Bonadonna, Leave Those Kids Alone Jo Taylor, Windsor Community Choir Abridged Opera Adam Bergamin, Disco Jesus Greater Windsor Concert Band