The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce $234,000 in awards to 48 individual artists working in the visual, literary and media arts. The city’s 2010 CityArtist Projects annual funding program supports the development and presentation of original work by individual artists based in Seattle. Funded projects must include a public presentation.

“While grants to individual artists are becoming increasingly scarce, we are committed to nourishing the work of independent artists,” said Michael Killoren, director of the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. “Artists are the heart and soul of Seattle, making important contributions to our quality of life and economic prosperity.”

The program received a record 189 applicants, a 12.5 percent increase in applications from the previous 2008 funding cycle for visual, literary and media arts. Twenty-six of the 48 funded artist projects are first-time recipients, representing 54 percent of the awards. The awards range from $1,500 to $10,000, with an average award of $4,875.

The CityArtists program provides funding to different artistic disciplines in alternating years. In 2009, the program awarded $225,000 to 39 artists working in the performing arts.