We’re honored to announce this year’s recipients of the Mario Basner Passion Project Fund (PPF) - a program created to support UNLV College of Fine Arts students through life-changing opportunities to pursue their dreams and experience real-world creative immersion.
A quick refresher: what is the Passion Project Fund?
The PPF helps art students pursue a passion project rooted in something profoundly personal - facilitating global travel, exploration, and stepping into unfamiliar environments. The goal is simple (and powerful): through financial support and mentorship, the PPF helps students find their voice, build confidence, and create work that becomes a springboard for their future.
Introducing the 2026 PPF recipients
Gisselle Ramos — Japan
Gisselle’s project will take her to Japan, focusing on the Kansai region with time in Osaka and Kyoto, where she’ll build a body of work shaped by place, culture, and creative immersion.
Dibadokht Goharian — Ohio
Dibadokht’s project will bring her to Holmes County, Ohio, documenting and exploring Amish communities through photography and lived observation.
Savannah Jackson — Las Vegas → Amsterdam → Sydney
Savannah’s project is a multi-destination journey, beginning in Las Vegas and continuing to Amsterdam and Sydney, Australia, examining how legality shapes visibility and cultural acceptance within their red light districts.
Why We Do This
At Basner Fine Art, we believe art should elevate lives and we believe in contribution as a core value. The PPF is one way we invest in the next generation of creative talent: not only in their craft, but in their growth as artists and humans.
We can’t wait to see what each student creates.
Learn more about the Passion Project Fund:
https://basnerfineart.com/PPF/
This program is made possible by Basner Fine Art and supporting partners, including The Bitterman Family, The Luna Foundation, Zeiss Camera Lenses, and Lensrentals.com.