In a suprise announcement from Hyde Park Art Center this last Monday it was made known that the center had received an anonymous donation of $560,000 to be distrubuted to artist run spaces and curatorial ventures in Chicago. With this grant money they have decided to award $8,000 to each of their participants of "Artist Run Chicago" and the rest will be disbursed into 20 additional grants.
Amongst the grant reciepients is Edra Soto's space The Franklin. The Franklin, which is run out of her home, is a beloved community-oriented show space in East Garfield Park. The structure was built by Soto and is designed as a gazedo models and has six moveable walls, a deck and a decorative facade. With the grant money Soto and her collaborator and husband, Dan Sullivan, will curate a show with Puerto Rican aritst, Norma Vila Rivero as well as build a website and publish a book about the space.
This last year Edra Soto participated in group show Unreachable Spring and became represented by the gallery.