A number of the region's artists and arts organizations will pick up some nice cheques this year through the North Carolina Arts Council's grassroots grant program.
By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – The $235,141 in grassroots grants distributed to Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender Counties will fund 13 groups and a number of individual artists ? everything from a puppetry program in Columbus County schools to the Brunswick County Arts Council to UNCW Art Department chair Donald First.
The process of applying for grassroots grants has been a little more complicated for New Hanover County's artists since the collapse of the arts council several years ago.
This is a transitional year with the Cape Fear Museum of History beginning to hand off grant administration to the Greater Wilmington Arts and Cultural Alliance. According to GWACA Executive Director Tom Cunningham, the change did not seem to confuse any of the groups, many of which apply for these grants year after year.
Individual artists still have to apply through the arts council in Fayetteville, although Cunningham says his group is trying to get administration of those grants, too.
The North Carolina Arts Council hands out annual funding based on population to support local arts councils and arts groups. The General Assembly-funded group gave out $6,589,660 across the state this year. The grants generally require recipients raise matching funds.
North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Grants in Southeastern North Carolina:
Arts Council of Bladen County
Various arts programs and subgrants ($13,878)
Brunswick Arts Council
Various arts programs and subgrants ($27,668)
Columbus County Arts Council
Various arts programs and subgrants ($19,302)
Columbus County Schools
Three week-long residencies in puppetry, Appalachian music and jazz in two schools by the Red Herring Puppets, Anne Lough and Gregg Gelb ($7,500)
Whiteville High School
Fourteen-day residency by EbzB Productions (($5,713)
Cape Fear Museum of History
Various arts programs and subgrants ($50,429)
Cucalorus Film Festival
Twelfth Annual Cucalorus Film Festival ($7,000)
DREAMS of Wilmington
General operating support ($25,000)
Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
General operating support ($40,000)
Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
Performance Series: Main Attractions Series ($5,000)
UNC-Wilmington Presents
Performance Series: Arts in Action Performance Series ($6,000)
UNC-Wilmington Creative Writing Department
Writers Week 2007 ($2,500)
Pender County
Festivals, performances, classes, art scholarship and exhibitions ($17,151)