Correspondent awarded grant
$2,500 given by Artists with Disabilities program
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Staff report
Susan Wojnar of Youngstown has been awarded a $2,500 grant through the Ohio Arts Council's Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP), a competitive program that helps artists with disabilities advance their careers and expand opportunities to share their work with the public.
Wojnar, 64, is a musician, poet, author, journalist and mental health advocate. She works as a correspondent for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator and performs original music throughout Northeast Ohio with her band, Feral Company.
A graduate of Youngstown State University with a master's degree in English, Wojnar is the author of "White Darkness: Poetic Tales of the Schizophrenic Experience." She has spent years using her writing, music and public speaking to increase understanding of mental illness and reduce stigma.
Wojnar has presented to mental health professionals, students and community organizations at institutions including NEOMED, St. Vincent Hospital, UPMC Horizon Hospital, NAMI at Case Western Reserve University and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. She has also appeared on national podcasts, including "Schizophrenic in NYC" and "Inside Schizophrenia."
The grant will help fund a recording and video project featuring Wojnar and Feral Company. The project is intended to expand the audience for her original music and support her ongoing artistic development.
The Ohio Arts Council's Artists with Disabilities Access Program provides funding for projects that promote professional growth, artistic development and community engagement. Applications are reviewed by panels of arts and cultural professionals, with final funding decisions approved by the Ohio Arts Council Board.