Creative Writing and Translation Graduate Student and Alumna Receive Artists 360 Awards

Photos by Stephen Ironside

Joaquin Gavilano, left, and Julia Paginelli-Marin.

Mid-America Arts Alliance has announced the recipients of the 2023 Artists 360 Awards. One current M.F.A. student in the the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing and Translation in the Department of English has been awarded a Student Artist grant, and one alumna has been awarded a Community Activator grant. Their proposed projects focus on support for the development of works in translation, community engagement and publication.

Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, made possible through the support of the Walton Family Foundation, provides grant funding and professional development opportunities to individual artists of all disciplines in the greater Northwest Arkansas area.

Grants include learning opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and build sustainable careers, creating a network of leading regional artists. 

Current third-year M.F.A. student Joaquín Gavilano was awarded a Student Artist grant and recognized by Artists 360 for his work in literary translation. From his artist statement: 

"As a literary translator bridging the linguistic gap between English and Spanish, my work lies at the intersection of art and language. I find deep fulfillment in uncovering the hidden treasures of Bolivian literature — an oft-neglected sphere — and making them accessible to a global audience. My practice is akin to archaeology, as I meticulously unearth the nuances of an author's style, delving into their life, influences and sociopolitical context. This process allows me to faithfully echo their voices in another language, preserving their individuality while expanding their reach."

Alumna Julia Paginelli-Marin has been awarded a Community Activator grant to expand the reach of Bee Balm Arkansas, "a community writing workshop, reading series and publication" founded by Paginelli-Marin in 2022. Paginelli-Marin will use grant funding to develop curriculum for community poetry-writing workshops, bring visiting writers to Northwest Arkansas and produce the organization's second volume in their chapbook series.