Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Artist Support Grantees from Cabarrus County

Lisa Albinus – Funding to support advanced botanical illustration training and mentorship in pursuit of professional growth as a botanical illustrator and educator.

Deborah Arbes – Funding to support the partial purchase of a kiln, the essential equipment needed to establish a ceramic studio.

Margaret Athanas – Funding to support attendance at a weeklong engraving course at the New Approach School for Jewelers to develop metal engraving skills.

Marcus Booth – Funding to support conference attendance and travel to build professional connections, expand networks, and develop skills to advance their film/media arts practice.

Micah Cash – Funding to support the purchase of a new laptop to complete fieldwork for the photography book Memory & Magic.

Emory Rice – Funding to support a Grand Imagination weekend, including the hiring of actors and the creation of a community-wide series of imaginative performances.

Sarah Ferdon – Funding to support attendance at a Second Level Tapestry Workshop with UNESCO artist Maximo Laura to develop advanced weaving and color techniques.

Rhys Godwin – Funding to support the Frame by Frame project, providing equipment to realize the vision of Capture The Moment

Kimblyn Harris – Funding to support Planting the Story: A Visual Journey of ONE GOOD SEED, a film/media arts project.

Troy Kryzalka  – Funding to support the Number Drummer interactive children’s books, “Counting Rocks” (K–2) and “The Secret Life of Number 8” (3–5).

Shane Manier – Funding to support a writing retreat and the publishing of a coming-of-age poetry memoir exploring the duality of love and harm in an unstable upbringing.

Morgan Elizabeth Bowman – Funding to support the production of a short film that amplifies queer representation, centers marginalized women’s voices, and challenges the status quo through bold cinematic storytelling.

Elizabeth Sullivan – Funding to support final editing, mastering, and production of a professional chamber music album recording.

Dylan Ward – Funding to support Sinetology, including the commissioning, recording, mixing, and mastering of six new pieces by local artists for a full-length solo album.

Destiny Wilson – Funding to support an art show presenting a new body of work.

Edward Wright – Funding to support the production and promotion of Movie Scores Vol. 2, a 20-track instrumental album blending orchestral and hip-hop elements to expand artistic reach and prepare for future sync licensing and performances.