Firefly the Hybrid, center, one of this year’s grant recipients, created an immersive light display for his April 2022 concert at Mayo Street Arts in Portland. The musician was joined onstage by fellow Penobscot artists Donna Decontie-Brown, left, and Ana Rapp. Photo courtesy of Mayo Street Arts A drummer from Rwanda, an Arabic calligrapher and a Ukrainian folk painter are among the nine artists who were awarded $1,000 grants this month from a Mayo Street Arts program that supports Maine immigrants who practice art forms from their countries of origin.
This is the third year the Portland arts center has awarded grants through its Traditional Arts Network program, which also provides professional development to artists who have just arrived in Maine by connecting them to other artists and supplying resources like rehearsal and performance space, free of charge. Yuliia Derkach with one of her paintings. She paints in the Ukrainian folk style of painting, called “Petrykivsky” painting.
Photo courtesy of Yullia Derkach Yuliia Derkach, who lives in Auburn with her husband and daughter, works in a dental clinic and paints in her free time. With the money she received, she will be able to frame her Ukrainian folk art paintings. “This was my first application,” Derkach said.
“The process was very easy and clear. I am happy and excited to have the funding.” Mayo Street Executive Director Ian Bannon said the program’s definition of traditional arts is broad.
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