ECAC'S SUNBURST AWARD

 

The SUNBURST AWARDS includes a special annual award in memory of Meredith Johnston, to be given to an artist exhibiting great community spirit. 

**Our 2025 recipient of the Meredith Johnston award is Trisha Best of Keeseville, NY. 

Trisha will use her award to host classes in handbuilding clay for children and adults using air dry clay and acrylic paints.

This memorial award is made possible by the Westport Heritage House.
 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

 ECAC's SUNBURST AWARD is a micro-grant designed to support artists of all disciplines and all ages with a specific project or opportunity that will provide a significant impact and expansion to their art career.

Artists must either reside in Essex County or be able to demonstrate close ties to Essex County.  

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for projects or opportunities that will advance their art career, defined as:

• An opportunity to which you have been invited that will boost your career in a specific way;
• Participation in an event/conference/program/workshop that will help bring your career to a new level, that is, step up in an art career, rather than a lateral move;
• The completion of an on-going project where the final result will be used to have a significant impact on your career.      

Application process details: **our grant cycle for 2026 is not yet open**

• Applications must be submitted via email or USPS by Tuesday, October 1, 2026.
• Projects or opportunities must take place before December 31, 2027.
• Artists of all disciplines and media can apply for grants up to $500.
• Preference may be given to artists with close ties to Essex County.
• Proposals will be reviewed by a panel comprised of artists, cultural administrators, and/or community members.
• Due to limited funds, not all requests will receive awards. Awards may be less than the requested amount.
• Applicants will be notified of the results by November 15, 2026.

​Submission Instructions:

• Submit application (located at the foot of this page as a .pdf);
• Include brief resume;
• Supplemental materials: include sample/s of your work with a maximum of four texts, images, or recordings; or a link to your work on website.
• Submit via USPS Mail or e-mail the application and supporting materials by October 1, 2026.
• Contact ECAC via email at admin@essexcountyarts.org with any questions or for assistance.

 

Our 2025 SUNBURST Awardees:

This year’s Sunburst Award recipients applied for funding to support a wide range of artistic genres. Watch for their workshops and exhibits in 2026 throughout Essex County.

Trisha Best                           Keeseville; Pottery

Julien Feller                         Jay; Wood Carving

Stephen DiCerbo                 North Hudson; Gyotaku

Ana Fors                              Saranac Lake;  Songwriting

Martha Gallagher                Keene; Music

Susan Granfors                  Westport; Fiber art

Andrew Murdock                Keene; Puppetry

Pam Lemza Putnam           Crown Point; Painting

Jennifer VanBenschoten   Jay; Songwriting

 

Our 2024 Awardees:

This year’s Sunburst Award recipients applied for funding to support a wide range of artistic genres, including writing, photography, storytellling, music recordings, assemblage, watercolors, and making paper for book sculpting. Watch for their workshops and exhibits in 2025 throughout Essex County.

Congratulations to all!

Jane Boxall, Lewis

Rob Fountain,  Au Sable Forks

Kelsey Francis, Lake Placid

Martha Gallagher, Keene

Karen Glass, Keene Valley

Susan Granfors, Westport

Lauren McGovern, Wilmington**

Anastasia Osolin, Saranac Lake

Stacey Prime, Keene Valley

Sue Anne Walton-Godlewski, Au Sable Forks

Our 2023 Awardees:

This year’s Sunburst Award recipients applied for funding to support a wide range of artistic genres, including writing, photography, watercolors, bas relief, painting on recycled materials, and book sculpting. Watch for their workshops and exhibits in 2024 throughout Essex County.

Rob Fountain,  Au Sable Forks

Dina Garvey, Lewis

Dan Hausner, Saranac Lake

Lauren McGovern, Wilmington

Paula Olejnik, Jay

Carl Rubino, Wilmington

Lawrence Vanderburgh, Schroon Lake

Sue Anne Walton, Au Sable Forks

 

Our 2022 Awardees:

Stephen DiCerbo, North Hudson

Heidi Gero, Au Sable Forks

Heather Loase, Lake Placid

Lauren McGovern, Wilmington

Sean Platt, Lake Placid

Matthew Pray, Keeseville

Kathleen Recchia, Saranac Lake

Lawrence Vanderburgh, Schroon Lake

 

Our 2021 Awardees:

GENE BAKER, Keene Valley 

MARTHA GALLAGHER, Keene 

ALISON WELD, Westport,

Our 2020 Awardees:

• Michael Gray Banjo Maker

Michael will use his award toward the puchase of a drum sander paving the way for his move beyond the craft of banjpo making to the art of banjo making.

• Susan Hoffer Painter

Susan plans two (2) solo exhibits in 2021, one in Lake George Arts in Lake George and the second at Adirondack Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake.  Susan's Painted Stories paiintings depict the diversity of ideas and people in the Adirondack Park. An example of Susan's work appears as the header of this page, "Susan - Self; July 2021", photo taken by Barry Lobdell Photography and Fine Art.

• Marissa Jonke Taxidermist

The ACD award will provide Marissa the opportunity to attend the United Taxidermists of NY Convention where she expects to not only enhance her skills but also compete.

• Lucas Tardif Fly Rod Maker

Lucas who specializes in the traditional are of making bamboo fly rods, proposes to purchase a Morgan Hand Mill and related accoutrements to provide a much more polished and professional fly rod.

• Dolly Sfeir Choreographer

Dolly will purpose her award for a self-produced, directed and choreographed film, The Lights Go Out.

 

Our 2019 Awardees:

• Esther Rogers Baker Cellist,Composer,Collaboratoreacher

Esther plans to use the ACD Grant funds for a unique recording session of an MRI composition. This recording provides the quality tool for her pursuit of further collaboration, development and multi-media performance.

• Zachary Clemans Chef, Painter, Sculptor, Ceramicist

Working with natural and cultivated local materials to represent an impression of the "Adirondack landscape", Zachary is preparing for a Gallery Show at the Recovery Lounge in Upper Jay, NY in October of 2020.

• Dawn Klotzko Specialty Quilter

Dawn plans to advance her quilting techniques using rulers and custom machine quilting at the Vermont Quilt Festival in June of 2020.