Art Gumbo Dubuque will not be accepting applications for the annual summer funding cycle. The event scheduled for June has been cancelled. The independent crowd-funding initiative was launched in 2010 and has raised nearly $12,000 in seed money to fund 24 arts-related projects. Art Gumbo winners have included Tim Olson's "A City at Work," Bell Tower Theatre, Outside The Line's Art Gallery's "The Great Draw," and artist Gene Tully's sculpture installation in the Historic Millwork District.
Co-founder and director Paula Neuhaus plans to use the time off from the summer event to work on plans to re-launch the project in September as Smart Gumbo; a crowd-funding source for smart ideas that propose to impact our economy, increase a healthy environment, and enhance our cultural vibrancy. Smart Gumbo plans to accept applications from all projects that propose to make Dubuque a smart and thriving place to live, work, and play.
"Art Gumbo has offered the arts community an alternative funding source for three years and has funded some incredible projects," Neuhaus said, "In our fourth year we're excited to welcome proposals from a variety of disciplines. As the cultural landscape of Dubuque continues to evolve, Smart Gumbo will be there to provide funding to all facets of innovative projects that impact our community."
The inaugural Smart Gumbo is schedule for Thursday, September 18, 6-8 p.m. at Dubuque Area Arts Collective, 902 Main Street with soup and bread provided by Dubuque Food Co-Op.
For more details or to donate time or services to Art Gumbo/Smart Gumbo visit artgumbodubuque.blogspot.com or contact Paula Neuhaus at art.gumbo.dbq@gmail.com.
