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Who was Dave McKay?
Dave McKay was an artist of passion and intense creativity who mentored and inspired many other artists in the Fremont community. He was a master craftsman , puppeteer, sculptor, and innovator who always had something kind to say.
Dave brought an awareness of the seasons and a standard of excellence to the Fremont Arts Council (FAC). His ideas helped shape the yearly calendar of events that the FAC sponsors to this day, including the
Summer Solstice Parade & Pageant, Winter Feast, Mayday, Trolloween, and the Luminata lantern walk at the autumn equinox. He passed away in 1995, leaving a guiding ethos that remains with us today.
Announcing: The Annual Dave McKay Grant Fund
In 2006 the Fremont Arts Council inaugurated the Dave McKay Grant Fund, an annual program of artist grants. The Fund is dedicated to bringing new art to the streets of Fremont for the Summer Solstice Parade & Pageant. The McKay Fund recognizes deserving artists and encourages them to develop new work. The Fund helps the FAC to expand our range of expression by welcoming new participants and elevating the quality of the art that we create.
Dave McKay dedicated seed money to the Fund with the request that it be matched by the community. In 2006, the McKay Fund granted $5,000 to 5 exceptional artists and ensembles.
Colin Ernst fabricated a unique family of kinetic sculptures. Brian Kooser built the enormous 'Fountain of Youth,' which unleashed a dozen giant babies onto the street. Elizabeth Lawrence invited the marching band of 'Boxitania,' a fictional country. Sarah Lovett created a 17-foot long inflatable puppet. The Sammamish High School Art & Community Club debuted an imaginative piece of theater extolling the virtues of organic fruits and vegetables.
None of this art would have been possible without the Dave McKay Grant Fund. With your support, the FAC hopes to continue to use this fund as a catalyst for brilliant new work in Solstice Parades to come.
Replenish the Fund
Dave McKay requested that this Fund be replenished annually. Please contribute.
In an age of mass culture, a special kind of courage is needed to bring creative self-expression into the public arena. Dave McKay embodied this courage. The Dave McKay Grant Fund brings one-of-a-kind artwork to the streets of Seattle. In return, we ask that our community rally to support this Fund. Your financial donation keeps the parade vital by ensuring that artists have the resources they need to realize their visions.
The Calendar
Grant applications are generally due by December 31st of each year. The McKay grant committee will make final decisions in January so that artists can begin their projects well in advance of the Fremont Solstice Parade & Pageant.
If you're interested in applying for a McKay grant, please visit the Grants page for full application details and deadlines.
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