Jamaica Plain artist Paul Willis is set to make an album after being awarded the Iguana Music Grant.
Thanks to the grant, he will be able to come out with an album that accompanies a book, where he will discuss workshops, keynotes, and interviews about how hip-hop can change the world through these values.
In total, Passim has awarded a total of $41,350 in grants to 23 artists through their Iguana Music Fund this year. The Iguana Fund has funded career-building projects for more than 15 years and has supported hundreds of New England artists.
"Over the last 16 years of the Iguana Music Fund, Passim has been fostering local artist development and giving musicians a leg-up in their careers,” said Abby Altman, Club Manager at Passim. “This year we continue to broaden our support of the community by introducing the Gecko Fund. We continue to reach new facets of the New England music scene, funding projects this year from Americana and bluegrass to hip-hop and R&B."
Grants are used to aid artists that are working to help their community or further their careers. Passim has awarded more than $594,000 in grants for the past 16 years. This year, Passim received more than 140 applications from across New England for the Iguana Music Fund.
The Gecko Fund aims to support artists early in their career in their aspirations to create a body of musical work that is linked through a narrative arc. The grant is funded by Steven & Cindy Chao and established in honor of Steve’s late sister Caroline Chao. .