MILWAUKEE -- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee theater professor Anne Basting has been named a 2016 MacArthur Fellow.
Basting, 51, is one of 23 new fellows. Each of them will receive $625,000 to pursue projects of their choice.
According to the MacArthur Foundation, the unrestricted fellowships, known as “genius” grants, are awarded to people who have shown “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.”
“Waves of gratitude go to all the people that have ever said yes to agreeing to do a project with me over the years, and in Milwaukee, that’s a huge network now,” Basting said in a news release. “I’ve done national and international work, too, but the depth of collaboration and support from Milwaukee has been huge.”
According to UWM officials, Basting is the founder of the Creative Trust, an alliance that fosters lifelong learning through the arts, and which supports a Student Artists in Residence program that trains and embeds students with aging services organizations.
“While our communities, our nation and our world face both historic and emerging challenges, these 23 extraordinary individuals give us ample reason for hope,” MacArthur President Julia Stasch said. “They are breaking new ground in areas of public concern, in the arts, and in the sciences, often in unexpected ways. Their creativity, dedication and impact inspire us all.”
