Artistic dreams can come true

A beloved actor with a prolific body of work may be gone, but his legacy lives on in the creative dreams of others.

Applications are now being accepted for funding through the Jack Bannon Fund for the Arts, created by the late Bannon's wife, Ellen Travolta, to honor his memory by providing support to those seeking to further their artistic passions.

The deadline to apply is April 15.

"In my mind, the way Jack would have liked it is say someone wants to learn how to play the flute and they can’t afford the lessons, or somebody who is older and has children in school and now has free time and always wanted to be an artist," Travolta said Wednesday. "I want to encourage people if they have a dream, something they really want to do and they need help doing it, to apply for this scholarship."

Bannon was a stage, screen and film actor who appeared in a number of productions such as "L.A. Heat," "Hard Vice" and "The Golden Girls" and he had starring role in "Lou Grant." He lived in Coeur d'Alene with Travolta for many years, where she still resides, before his passing in October 2017.

Local creatives interested in applying for support through the Jack Bannon Fund for the Arts must be at least 16, live in Kootenai County and be pursuing endeavors in visual, performing or literary arts. Funds are awarded in the amounts of $1,000-$2,500 depending on the project, timeline and budget. Applicants are asked to provide details about their artistic goals, plus one letter of reference.

Proposed projects and pursuits should increase the applicant’s learning or experience through the arts. Endeavors can include visual art, dance, music, creative writing, photography, design, film, audio production or similar.

The fund is managed in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance.

"By providing funding for these opportunities, we hope to support the growth and development of local creatives and help them achieve their artistic goals," said Abby Light, executive director of the Arts and Culture Alliance. "We believe that investing in the arts not only benefits individual artists, but also enriches our community as a whole by fostering creativity, innovation and cultural expression."

Last year's recipient was Jos Benak, who used her funding as part of her Lake City High School senior project to produce and promote a student art show.

Travolta said although some dreams may appear to be impossible, they may not be as out of reach as one would think.

"People should ask for what they need and want," she said. "I just hope people are aware of this opportunity, ask about it and find out."

Visit artsandculturecda.org to apply.