Press release via Leeway Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, PA [January 17, 2025] — In December 2024, Leeway Foundation awarded $180,000 in unrestricted support to 12 women, trans*, and/or gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers in the Greater Philadelphia region, working at the intersection of art and social change for the past five years or more, demonstrating a long-term commitment to social change work.
Leeway received a record number of Transformation Award applications in 2024 – a 49% increase from the previous year and the second largest amount received since the award was introduced 20 years ago. Chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, this year’s cohort includes artists who have showcased years of commitment to issues including but not limited to racial justice, cultural preservation, LGBQA social movements, immigrant justice, and transgender justice/gender self-determination. Through music, media, literary arts, performance, folk arts, visual arts, and multidisciplinary practices, the selected awardees – who range from their 20s through 60s – showcase a vision and intentional analysis for how art in community is a catalyst for social change.
The 2024 Transformation Award (LTA) Recipients are (in alphabetical order):
- Azra Liaqat Khan of East Kensington, Literary Arts
- candice iloh of West Philadelphia, Literary Arts/Performance
- Detty Katsubi Aziz of East Goshen Township, Folk Arts/Performance
- Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi of Brewerytown, Multidisciplinary
- Hazel Edwards of University City, Performance/Folk Arts
- Lane Timothy Speidel of West Philadelphia, Visual Arts/Literary Arts
- Mateo Souada of Kingsessing, Literary Arts
- Sam Rise of Southwest Philadelphia, Performance/Music
- Selina Morales of West Philadelphia, Literary Arts/Media Arts
- Talie of Cobbs Creek, Music/Media Arts
- Ximena Violante of Royersford, Music/Folk Arts
- Yvonne Lung of Frankford, Multidisciplinary
*Leeway is a trans-affirming organization committed to gender self-determination, and we use the term “trans” in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is nonconforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.
ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION AWARD
A national panel of artists and cultural producers convened to review applications and work samples in this two-stage process. The 2024 panel included Chicago-based social practice and fiber artist, writer, and educator Aram Han Sifuentes, teacher/facilitator, choreographer/performer, and graphic designer Leigh Robbie Gaymon-Jones from Long Beach, and Philly born and raised author, multidisciplinary activist-artist, and speaker, Khaliah D. Pitts (LTA ‘20, AiR ‘23, WOO ‘23). The second stage panel welcomed Palestinian-Tlingit illustrator, printmaker, and poet living in the Land of Enchantment (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Ameerah Bad'r, and Denver-based nationally recognized leader in the arts and cultural public sector, Tariana Navas-Nieves. The panel was facilitated by Aarati Kasturirangan, Philadelphia-based trainer, coach, and facilitator for changemakers.
The Transformation Award provides unrestricted annual awards of $15,000 to women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in greater Philadelphia who create art for social change and have done so for the past five years or more, demonstrating a long-term commitment to social change work.
Applications are made available on the Leeway website and may also be obtained by calling 215.728.9273 or emailing info@leeway.org. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend one of the many support sessions offered throughout the year or schedule an appointment with a staff member for one-on-one support.
The next deadline for the Transformation Award is May 15, 2025.
ABOUT LEEWAY FOUNDATION
The Leeway Foundation supports women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through our grantmaking and other programs, we promote artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in the service of movements for economic and social justice. For more information about Leeway, its grant programs, grantees, and events, visit leeway.org.