SC poet Nikky Finney uses art for social change, and she’s being recognized for it

One of the top artists in the country who is creating social change is a renowned South Carolina poet and professor at the state’s flagship university.

Nikky Finney has been recognized, along with just 24 other artists, by the Ford Foundation for her efforts through art to “help advance freedom, justice, and inclusion, and strengthen our democracy,” according to the foundation

Finney has been selected for a Ford Foundation Art of Change fellowship, which comes with a $50,000 stipend for one year to create work “exploring questions of freedom and justice,” the foundation says.

“Art is essential in a free and flourishing society,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the Ford Foundation’s director of creativity and free expression, in a statement on the foundation’s website. “Artists are the visionaries who can shine light on complexity and possibility, and inspire us to make those societies more just and more beautiful.”

As an award-winning poet, Finney is known for writing about themes of African American history and culture, gender, race and social justice. She is a professor of creative writing, African American studies and English at the University of South Carolina.

As an Art of Change fellow, Finney is in the company of other celebrated artists such as dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and composer Mohammed Fairouz.

This story was originally published October 3, 2017 at 12:39 PM with the headline "SC poet Nikky Finney uses art for social change, and she’s being recognized for it."