Marti Fast, Allan Hancock College’s art gallery director and a fine arts instructor, has been chosen as the 2014 Santa Maria Arts Council Grants Showcase honoree in recognition of her contributions to the local arts community. The arts council will award more than $13,000 in grants to local emerging musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists in Fast’s name in mid-May.
“I am blown away by this honor,” Fast said in a statement from Allan Hancock College. “There are so many other deserving people in this community who all support emerging artists; being selected is overwhelming.”
Fast has been involved with the Santa Maria Arts Council for decades. Her father, the late Nat Fast, was a founding member of the council, and helped spearhead the grants showcase awards in 1972. Since the program started, the Santa Maria Arts Council has awarded more than $235,000 to 335 locally trained artists, with first- and second-place winners receiving $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.
Three new grants have been added to the competition this season: the Nat D. Fast Memorial Grant, the Ian M. Hassett Grant, and the LPGA Grant. Ian Hassett was a young emerging artist who passed away from lymphoma in 2012; he was also Fast’s student for a time.
“Ian’s spirit and passion for life and art came to light in his work,” Marti Fast said in the statement. “Both Ian and my father never lost sight of the connection that art makes with human beings. Art is so powerful and speaks a universal language that does not need any words. I am honored to ensure their love for the arts will live on.”
The grant application deadline is March 21. Applicants must be 12 years of age or older, attend a grants workshop, and have studied art in Northern Santa Barbara County for at least two years. Winners will be honored during the Santa Maria Arts Council Grants Showcase on May 19 at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center.
More information is available at 459-1503 or grants@smartscouncil.org.
This article appears in Feb 27 – Mar 6, 2014.
