Grassroots Program subgrants are offered by the Community Council for the Arts annually. The program is a partnership between the North Carolina Arts Council and the communities of the state. The State of North Carolina provides its major support of local arts projects through this program by allocating funds to the counties on a per capita basis. The Community Council for the Arts acts as the Designated Partner for Lenoir County.
This year, the arts council awarded eight subgrants to Lenoir County organizations through this program.
As the partner with the NC Arts Council, the arts council is responsible for making grants to other organizations in the county so that they can produce their own arts programming. Any non-profit, tax-exempt organization in Lenoir County can apply to the arts council for Grassroots subgrant funds. Non-profit arts organizations and/or non-profit organizations with an arts project/program are eligible with all applicant organizations having been in operation for at least one year.
Individuals are not eligible for funds. Generally the call for Grassroots subgrant applications is made by the arts council in August/September of each year. Grant funds must be spent according to the approved application by May 31, 2013.
This year the arts council awarded eight organizations in Lenoir County Grassroots subgrants, totaling $9,700. The awards are for the following organizations and their respective programs:
- Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Service/Farmer’s Market organization
Artistic fee support for the design concept and installation of a mural on the newly acquired annex building of the Farmer’s Market
Award: $2,000
- Southeast Elementary School: Brenda Griffin
Fees for the purchase of tickets for students to attend the performances of two professional theatre touring companies for the presentations of “Warriors Don’t Cry” and “Stage Hands”
Award: $600
- Southeast Elementary School: Anne Kornegay
Artistic fee support for the creation of sandwich boards by students as a way of “celebrating and advertising” Southeast Club’s favorite books.
Award: $300
- Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library
Artistic Fee support for the Annual Storytelling Festival
Award: $600
- Lenoir Community College
Professional musician/vocalist fee support for the annual presentation of “Messiah”
Award: $2,000
- Preservation of Grainger Hill Complex
Fee support for the presentation of the professional theatre company Theatre IV’s performance of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
Award: $1,000
- Lenoir County Chapter North Carolina Symphony
Total payment for the presentation of the fifth-grade student annual education concert
Award: $2,000
- Northwest Elementary School
Artistic fee support for multiple performances from the professional touring theatre group “Young Audiences of Virginia” of the production “The American Dream”
The Community Council for the Arts applauds these organizations for the quality of the programs for which they sought subgrant assistance. Each of these efforts provides an enhanced quality of cultural life for the citizens of the community and excellence in arts education.
For additional information about Grassroots subgrants, call the arts center at 252-527-2517 or go to kinstoncca.com.