Arts Council shows diversity in grant awards for 2015-2016 cycle SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Retired teacher Diane Faison, who depicts Harriet Tubman, was one of the many ictipiciii^ ui on Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County grant announced at the orga n i z a I i o n ' s "Community Investment Reveal." The Arts Council announced more than $1.8 million in grants for its 2015-2016 grant cycle at the Milton Knoaes center ror i ne Arts on Oct. 29. Thirty-eight different organizations, some in more than one cat egory, and 16 individuals received grants. Faison, who received a grant enabling her to take her one-woman show, "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman," to middle and high schools, presented a short, moving scene from the show to the representatives of arts organizations and arts advocates who gathered for the "Reveal." The North Carolina Black Repertory Company, Which presents the National Black Theatre Festival, received one of the largest grants. Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts, a long-time Arts Council Funded Partner, received a grant under the new "Annual Event and Series Grants." Carolina Music Ways, which presents "Carolina Live, Our Musical Heritage," a 45-minute program that introduces elementary school students to the Piedmont's cross-cultural musical legacy, received funding as well as William Scheidt, who takes hands on African drumming and dancing workshops to ele mentary and middle school students. In his comments, Jim Sparrow, President and CEO of The Arts Council, said that priorities in the grant making process included "diversity and a sense of touching people." This was evident in both the larger grants and the smaller but impactful "mini grants" that included an original play to be present ed at the WSSU Anderson Center and a cultural arts festival with live music and entertainment at Easton Park. Sparrow elaborated by saying, "This year is espe cially significant because The Arts Council has revamped its awards process so grant categories are clearer and better fit the diverse organizations and artistic projects that com prise the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County arts community. We are mov ing toward a model that will allow us to target spe cific needs and take advan tage of opportunities when they arise throughout the community." This year, The Arts Council solicited input about the future direction of The Arts Council and had a committee comprised of Funded Partners, Board members and others assess the grants process. "When all is said and done," said Sparrow, "our objective is to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by donors, ensure we meet their expectations, and strength en and move forward the arts community in some manner through every grant we make." At the Community Investment Reveal, The Arts Council highlighted its six grant categories by showcasing performances and presentations by grantees in each of the cat egories. 'Organizational Support Grants - Matthew Troy, Artistic Director of Piedmont Wind Symphony 'Annual Event and Series Grants Kernersville Little Theatre 'Regional Artist Project Grants - Wurlitzer Prize ?Arts in Education - Diane Faison, one-woman Harriet Tubman show ?Innovative Project Grants - The Olio glass works, youth in transition project ?Community Enrichment Mini Grants - Winston-Salem South Asian Film Festival The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and ForSyth County raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learn ing opportunities, develops social capital and aids eco nomic development. Sparrow ~1 ^ARTS COUNCIL WtNS'ON-SAlCM fORSVTM COUNTY About Arts Council Grant Awards for the 2015-2016 cycle '109 grants awarded. Total of $1,807,116 in grant awards. 'Organizational Support Grants -14 totaling $ 1,398,500 'Annual Event and Series Grants -14 totaling $112,000 'Duke Energy Regional Artist Project Grants -11 totaling $25,000 'Wells Fargo Arts-in-Education - 17 totaling $100,000 'Innovative Project Grants - 13 totaling $49,000 'Community Enrichment Mini-Grants - 7 to date with 30 by end of this fiscal fear totaling $15,000 'Advertising Assistance Grants - 10 totaling $107,616 For more information about diabetes contact: 336-703-3216 Brought to you by /Cfe Forsyth County Department of Public Health Promoting Hi-allh. Improving Lixfs African American Memorial planned for Capitol site SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE RALEIGH-The North Carolina Historical Commission voted unani mously to proceed with planning a memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol to commemorate the contributions of African Americans to the life of the state. "We must begin to tell the story of the great contri butions African Americans have made to North Carolina," Gov. Pat McCrory said. The vote came after a recommendation of McCrory to Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz. The endorsement follows a 2010 study of monuments both inside and outside the Capitol and concurrent rec ommendations for develop ing additional memorials. The Historical Commission joins the African American Heritage Commission in seeking to fully represent the diversity of North Carolina's history. Those backing the proposal commend the work of the North Carolina Freedom Monument Project and seek to complement, not supplant, its ambitious plan for a public art project two blocks northeast of the Capitol. The planning commit tee is charged with site selection and identification of one or more designers to be placed before the Historical Commission for final selection. The first step will be identification of a suitable space on the State Capitol grounds with consideration of the northwest, southwest and southeast corners. The Vietnam Memorial occu pies the northeast corner and offers the prime model for scale. As to thematic ele ments, a host of potential subjects will be made known to prospective designers. The first meeting of the planning committee is set for January 2016. CSPL gj $200,000 $100,000 $150,000 $05,000 $50,000 NWCDC is a 501 (c)3-non-profit organization nudpiesNC.org I Contact events@nwcdc.org \ 336.721.1215 f MucPes NORTHWEST CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS L