The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, supported by the Windgate Foundation, has announced the eight recipients of its inaugural Artist Grant Initiative. Each emerging artist received an unrestricted $10,000 grant and participated in an online mentorship program with artists Vivian Chiu and Cedric Mitchell. The 2025 cohort, selected by jurors Curtis Arima and Annie Evelyn, includes Aminata Conteh, David Gutierrez, Payton Harris-Woodard, Celina Hernandez, Jason McDonald, Alex Paat, David Vuong, and Tzyy Yi (Amy) Young.
This initiative represents a significant investment in the future of contemporary craft, directly supporting artists working across diverse mediums like metal, glass, painting, ceramics, and furniture design. By providing substantial, unrestricted funding and structured mentorship, the program addresses critical needs for emerging makers, enabling them to expand studios, develop community projects, and deepen their practices. It highlights a growing institutional effort to foster sustainability and dialogue within the craft community, moving beyond traditional fellowship models to build a supportive network for artists navigating their professional paths.