Vibrant City Arts Grants

The Laurie Frink Career Grant is designed to support young brass players by offering them funding for serious study or to undertake a creative project. The grant honors Laurie Frink, who personally provided free lessons to her students when they struggled with financial burdens. The program's mission aligns with Frink's dedication to fostering musical talent and alleviating financial obstacles for aspiring musicians, particularly those pursuing jazz brass. The ultimate goal is to provide a life-changing grant to extraordinarily talented players, enabling them to advance their musical development. The primary target beneficiaries are US-based jazz brass players between the ages of 18 and 25. This cycle specifically includes lead trumpet applicants, broadening its reach within the jazz brass community. A key impact goal is to address the financial challenges faced by young musicians, allowing them to pursue intensive study or creative endeavors without the burden of cost. The grant aims to empower these emerging artists, contributing to their professional growth and the vitality of the jazz brass scene. The grant prioritizes projects that emphasize musical development and growth. This focus is explicitly stated as being favored over funding commercial recordings, indicating a commitment to artistic progression and education. The strategic priority is to identify and support exceptional talent, providing a critical boost at an early stage of their careers. The underlying theory of change suggests that by removing financial barriers and supporting focused musical development, the grant can significantly accelerate the careers of promising young musicians. Expected outcomes include enhanced musical skills, completion of significant creative projects, and the overall professional advancement of grant recipients. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided text, the ambition is to award a life-changing grant of $10,000 every two years. The success of the program can be informally measured by the artistic and career trajectories of its recipients, as they benefit from the opportunity for serious study or project execution that might otherwise be out of reach.