January 30, 2023 – Argent Financial Group, a leading fiduciary wealth management firm, announced today that the company will sponsor a fellowship for the Hambidge Creative Residency Program. This will be the company’s fifth consecutive year sponsoring.
The Argent Financial Distinguished Fellowship is available to residents of Ruston who work in writing, visual arts, dance, ceramics, culinary arts or music – and provides a $700 stipend along with a two-week residency at the Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, Georgia. The applications will be evaluated by the Hambidge Center’s panel review process.
“Argent is proud to continue its support of the Hambidge Creative Residency Program,” said Argent Financial Group CEO Kyle McDonald. “We believe supporting Ruston’s creative residents does more than allow the individual to hone their own art, but also inspires future generations and creates a stronger, culturally robust community.”
The Hambidge Creative Residency Program is the oldest residency program in the Southeast and provides a self-directed experience for creative individuals to work and produce, think, experiment or rejuvenate their talents.
Each resident is given their own private studio which provides work and living space with a bathroom and full kitchen. The studios are designed to protect the time, space and solitude that allows residents to focus on their work.
“We are grateful to Argent for their partnership and continued support in our mission to nurture creativity,” said Hambidge Center Development Director Kathryn Banks. “We are looking forward to giving the next Ruston resident a place to develop, explore and express their creative voice.”
Past Ruston Argent Financial Distinguished Fellowship recipients include author and illustrator Chlese Jiles, visual artist Frank Hamrick, musician Shayla Blake and inaugural recipient printmaking artist Raluca Iancu.
For more information and to apply, visit the Hambidge Center website at www.hambidge.org.
About Hambidge Center
For more than 85 years, the Hambidge Center has been nurturing creative talents within the arts and sciences at its 600-acre creative sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains, providing the space and time needed for visionary works to be conceived and developed. Nine individuals are in residence at any given time — each has private accommodations and studio space, and shares communal dinners prepared by the Hambidge chef. The public is invited to the Center on Saturdays for a series of programs that include artist talks, nature hikes, gristmill visits, weaving demonstrations, gallery openings and other special events.
About Argent Financial Group
Argent Financial Group (Argent) is a leading, independent, fiduciary wealth management firm. Responsible for more than $40 billion in client assets, Argent provides individuals, families, businesses and institutions with a broad range of wealth management services, including trust and estate planning, investment management, retirement plan consulting and administration, ESOPs, funeral and cemetery trusts, charitable organization administration, oil and gas (mineral) management and other unique financial services. Headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana, Argent was formed in 1990 and traces its roots back to 1930. For more information, visit www.ArgentFinancial.com.
