Requested grant amount
$10,000.
Project Summary
Research, author, and publish a didactic children's book
that encourages thinking critically about the consequences of social decisions
that authorize the redistribution of private property.
Project outcome # 1
Grant funds would allow the time and resources to create a
non-commercial project that would help me develop my skills as a writer.
How outcome #1 will be assessed
The outcome will be apparent by the reader's ability to
comprehend the didactic material and to compare it to their own real-life
experiences.
Project outcome #2
To engage local artists of various vocations, including authors,
editors, designers, and illustrators.
How outcome #2 will be assessed
This outcome will be evident by the various partners that
will be required to produce a book of this quality, which will be similar to
that of my work sample.
Artist Background
I have been a professional technical writer for over 10
years, and during that time I have increasingly enjoyed writing fiction on the
side for recreation. I began to consider pursuing a career in creative writing
in 2008 and began a home-based publishing company (Penelope Press LLC) to
organize, publish, and sell my original works. Since then I have published
three titles, and am currently attempting to expand my skills and abilities as
an artist.
Major goal
The major goal in all my writing is to elucidate
enlightenment concepts that are tenets of Western civilization, yet frequently
overlooked in modern society. My major goal in this project is to explain, in
detail, how social programs like the Legacy Amendment violate property rights,
marginalize free speech, and produce results that are usually the opposite of
their noble goals. I recognize the application guidelines prohibit grant
activities intended to influence legislation. My intention is not to influence
legislation, but to explain the destructive nature of all redistributive social
programs, using the Legacy Amendment as an example. Specifically, I intend to
demonstrate, in poetry and illustrations, how a majority of voting Minnesotans
authorized the redistribution of property from non-consenting Minnesotans
through an objectionable sales tax, and how those funds are now being used to
authorize a small group of individuals to define the future of art in Minnesota
according to their own discretion, and in a way that discriminates against
controversial artists. I intend to explain how the portion of Legacy Amendment
funds intended to "preserve our arts and cultural heritage" is
instead resulting in an unfortunate redefinition of "art" in
Minnesota from a voluntary, spontaneous, and creative activity to one that is
regulated, discriminatory, and dependent on the forceful confiscation of
property from a multitude of objecting taxpayers. Through clear text and
quality illustrations I intend to show that because of this program, artists
have an incentive to compromise their creative inclinations in order to conform
to projects they believe will be approved by the Art Board. The most clear
example of this is, as stated earlier, the prohibition of activities
"intended to influence legislation," which discriminates against, particularly,
any art that would be critical of the Legacy Amendment itself. This requirement
alone assures all projects funded by the Legacy Amendment will in part act as
propaganda for the Legacy Amendment in all its oppressiveness, and thus will
perpetuate the degrading state of our 'arts and cultural heritage.' In a larger
sense, this conflict of interest exposes the general nature of governments'
ability to perpetuate itself beyond the consent of the governed–its
licentiousness resulting in the latent subjugation of millions of people to
each other, and especially to a political class of authoritarian governing
elites. This project is intended to challenge the general premise that
government force and regulation can be an effective and legitimate replacement
for voluntary cooperation among consenting partners.
Barriers
My barriers include the time necessary to author the story
and the financing to afford the help I will need during production and
distribution.
Actions
The $5000 artist fee is my compensation, and will be
necessary to afford the time required to author the story. The remaining $5000
will be used for production costs, including raw materials, and hiring an
illustrator, designer, and printer.
Community component
After project completion, I intend to distribute the book to
public elementary schools throughout Minnesota free of charge, and to
participate in classroom book readings.
Impact on the state and creative community
I believe I offer a unique and distinctive point of view to
the creative community. I hope readers will be encouraged to think critically
about the decisions we make as a society, and how those impact our lives in
ways we may not notice. Also, Minnesota has a legacy of fostering art that is
groundbreaking and controversial, and I hope this project will demonstrate such
art is still welcomed in the state of Minnesota.
