Jamaican Jared Hall receives Princess Grace Foundation-USA Honorarium

ON FRIDAY, June 28, last year, a Gleaner headline says, ‘Jamaican wins prestigious European Short Film Festival Award, Jared Hall’s ‘Anansi The Spider’ is Best Animated Short Film’.

Campion College graduate Jared Hall, an artist, storyteller, illustrator, graphic designer, and animator, who has a bachelor of arts degree in illustration from Rhode Island School of Design, and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in animation at California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, is once again a winner, a recipient of a Princess Grace Foundation-USA honorarium in the category of film.

“The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is dedicated to upholding the legacy of Princess Grace of Monaco (née Grace Kelly), and elevating extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance and film through career-advancing grants. Her commitment to advance the arts in the United States is sustained by the Princess Grace Awards which supports and elevates extraordinary early career artists in theatre, dance and film through game-changing grants; and nurtures and supports Princess Grace Award winners throughout their careers,” The Princess Grace Foundation-USA says on its website.

Hall is one of 12 honorarium recipients, while there are 18 Princess Grace Award winners. “This extraordinary group of artists join our community of over 900 Princess Grace Award winners and Honoraria,” The foundation also says.

Established in 1982 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the foundation was created to honour the legacy of his wife, Princess Grace, an Oscar-winning Hollywood icon, and Princess of Monaco. After Her tragic death, her family wanted to create an organisation that reflected her love for her native country and her “profound dedication” to the arts. During her reign, Princess Grace brought arts and culture to Monaco, while also quietly supporting countless American performing and film artists. “This is the legacy that inspires the foundation’s mission”.

Hall was nominated by California Institute of the Arts, School of Film/Video. Other recipients in his category are Matt Feldman, nominated by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Karina Lomelin Ripper, nominated by Princess Grace Award winner Jahmil Eady (Film 2022); and Loren Waters, nominated by New Orleans Film Society.

The application process required Hall to submit two of his films. He submitted two animated shorts, the completed film, Anansi the Spider, now available on Youtube, as well as his upcoming film, The Blue Hole. The award was not for a specific piece of work, but an investment into his potential as an artist.

The honorarium includes a $1,500 artist grant, as well as an invitation to the black-tie Princess Grace Awards Gala, set to take place at The Plaza in New York City on October 29 in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. Tickets for this event publicly range from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on the seating. This invitation is all-inclusive, with the foundation paying for Hall’s accommodation and travel arrangements. Accepting this award also makes him a part of The Princess Grace Foundation-USA community, which qualifies him for exclusive special project grants, artist fellowships and professional development funding.

“It’s a little cliche to say this, but the real honour was just in being nominated. I attended school at the California Institute of the Arts. This school was personally founded by Walt Disney himself and notable alumni include the founders of Pixar and the creator of SpongeBob Square Pants. To qualify for this award, my school had to screen dozens of applicants from the animation Department,” Hall told The Gleaner.

“Among all this, they decided to recognise me and put me forth as their candidate. It was an amazing honour. Among a talented pool of artists, it’s a wonderful feeling to be recognised by both my school and the foundation itself. This is only my first grant ever. I am still just starting out. It makes me very excited for what might be possible in my future.”