Betty Taylor Memorial Award
for Emerging Artists in Visual Arts and Crafts ​

Meet our 2025 Betty Taylor Award Recipient: Kate Stockman!

A quote from Kate: "I am honored to be named the recipient of the Betty Taylor artist support award from the Arts Council of Henderson County! Betty's fund was started by her husband after her passing, and is administered by the Community Foundation of Henderson County; she was a lifelong artist and he wanted to support other artists in her honor. The award is to support artists through equipment & training and other education.I am delighted to receive this award! It will go towards my training in the healing power of art. I have long loved playing with The Muse and being centered and soothed by creating art. I have felt its healing powers. Now, with our "Creating Calm after Chaos" trauma recovery art process, I am witness to it as well. This program I am co-facilitating with Amy Lloyd has sparked a flame in my heart to learn more about the magic and mystery of art's healing power. I am beyond honored to have been selected! Many thanks to everyone involved in this award!"

Visit Kate's website here: katestockmandesigns.com/
About Betty Taylor 
Betty Taylor took her first art lesson at the tender age of eight, and her love of the Arts stayed with her throughout her life. Betty spent most of her career in Michigan where her work was handled by galleries. It was there that she personally experienced and understood the struggles, persistence, and need for assistance as an emerging artist.

After Betty’s death in 1990, her husband, Ross Taylor, established the Betty Taylor Memorial Fund with Community Foundation of Henderson County to promote and support emerging artists who have financial need and are studying in the field of visual arts and crafts. Mr. Taylor often said, “Betty’s hands could create anything, it was magical,” and it is the Foundation’s pleasure to keep the memory and spirit of Betty Taylor alive with the award.
More information can be found here: https://www.cfhcforever.org/grants/bettytaylor​

Purpose 
To promote emerging artists who are in need of financial support and are studying in the field of visual arts and crafts.

Sponsorship
The Betty Taylor Memorial Award is funded by Community Foundation of Henderson County, working in tandem with the Arts Council of Henderson County. Applicants for the Arts Council’s Artists Support Grant program will be eligible for consideration to receive the Betty Taylor Memorial Fund award .

Eligibility
  • Individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists
  • Applicants may be either emerging artists or established artists and should possess a strong record of artistic accomplishment appropriate to the stage of the applicant’s career
  • The applicant must reside or work in Henderson, Polk or Transylvania counties for a minimum of one year prior to April 2022.
  • Applicant may not be a board or staff member of any of the sponsoring entities. In addition, the applicant may not be a spouse, family member, or significant other of a board or staff member of any of the sponsoring entities.
  • Applicants must be 18 years of age and not be enrolled in a degree or certificate program
  • Previous Taylor Award recipients are not eligible
  • Each member of a small unincorporated group of collaborating artists must meet the eligibility requirements and shall not circumvent these requirements by applying for what is really a collaborative effort.

Projects
The Betty Taylor Memorial Award is designed to award projects that will advance the applicant’s career as an emerging artist in the field of visual arts and crafts. The relationship of the project to the career advancement of the applicant must be clearly defined in the “Narrative” section of the application. Conducting deeper study is a key element to the Taylor Award, and the applicant will need to elaborate on study method, mentoring, apprenticeships, etc. 

 Examples:
  • Completion/production of a new work [ cost of purchasing materials to complete a new work or facility rental for presentation ]
  • Career Promotion [ demonstration, portfolios, editorial assistance ]
  • Equipment [ the cost of purchasing equipment to complete the project ]
  • Training [ advanced study, coaching, or workshops that will enhance the applicant’s abilities ]
  • Travel [ costs for transportation, lodging, food associated with training, workshops, seminars or research ]

Grants may not be used for scholarships to assist in obtaining degrees, either academic
or professional.

Credit: 
If you create any printed materials relating to your project, you must include logos for Community Foundation of Henderson County and the Arts Council of Henderson County with the following line of credit:
“This project was supported by a Betty Taylor Memorial Award from Community Foundation of Henderson County, administered by the Arts Council of Henderson County.”

Evaluation
A panel will evaluate applications based upon the following criteria:
  • Quality of the applicant’s work
  • Commitment as an emerging artist in the field of visual arts and crafts
  • The project’s ability to advance the career in demonstrable ways
  • Demonstrated need for support

DEADLINES:

  • Applications Open: February 5, 2025
 
  • Applications Close: February 28, 2025
         
  • Panel Meets to choose recipient 
 
  • Grant Recipient will be notified by March 14, 2025
 
  • ACoHC will distribute funds to artist when their education/project/etc begins                                                                                                  
  • Artist’s reception held at local gallery where physical Betty Taylor award is presented to Artist (Date and Location TBD) 


Betty Taylor Application Requirements will include: 
-Grant amount requested not to exceed $3,000
-Description of proposed project
-Proposed Project Period
-Project Budget 
-Samples of Work
-Artist Resume
-Letters of Recommendation

Questions?  Please email Mel Ailiff at [email protected]


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