In honor of alpinists Jonny Copp and Micah Dash, the American Alpine Club has established a new grant. The Copp-Dash Inspire Award seeks to encourage the creative story-telling ability that the two men used to share their expedition exploits. Focusing on multimedia, the award requires climbers to pursue audacious new ascents while also initiating a unique and colorful means to share their adventures.
The AAC website specifies that good candidates for the grant will propose “first ascents in distant ranges and regions requiring a high level of skill and commitment, and climbed in a fast, light and clean style.” Proposed documentation of the expedition can be any mixture of photo slideshows, video and writing that “captures the essence of the adventure.” The stories must also be shared through various outlets including the internet and magazine articles.
A unique aspect of the Copp-Dash Inspire Award is that recipients will be provided guidance and mentorship in the production of their stories both before and after the expedition. Instruction and advice will be provided by Alpinist, as well as the Adventure Film Festival, Sender Films and professional photographers John Dickey and Mikey Schaefer.
While the grant is administered by the AAC it is sponsored by Black Diamond Equipment, La Sportiva, Mountain Hardware and Patagonia. It consists of a pool of $20,000 in grants to North American climbers for expeditions between May 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011. Applications are due March 31, 2010 and are available at the AAC’s website.
inclined.americanalpineclub.org