WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has announced its first round of 2016 grants made through its Community Enrichment Mini-Grant initiative. These awards provide community groups and individuals with grants up to $500 to infuse the arts into all segments of the community, promote creativity, provide greater access to the arts and bring people together.

Wells Fargo, which already funds The Arts Council’s $100,000 Arts-in-Education award program, is increasing its giving this year to sponsor the Community Enrichment Mini-Grants.

“The mini-grants are a new avenue to reach deeper into the community with the arts and broaden their impact,” said Peggy Reingold,  Wells Fargo Community Affairs Officer, Triad West Region.

“Sometimes needs and opportunities arise on short notice and the annual grant process just doesn’t accommodate them,” said Dara Silver,” Director Member Services and Grants Programs for The Arts Council.  “Through the mini-grant awards, our board has created a device to support artistic ideas and activity in ways other than through traditional institutions and avenues.  Ideas and initiatives may come from a group of individuals, churches, community organizations or even businesses. Getting arts to the grassroots requires creative and entrepreneurial thinking and having a partner like Wells Fargo is so very appropriate.”

Leslie Hayes, Executive Vice President at Wells Fargo & Company and Business Banking Division Manager for the Carolinas, is co-chairing The Arts Council’s 2016 Annual Campaign.  “Wells Fargo is proud to support nonprofits working to strengthen communities in the Triad and Western Regions of North Carolina” she said.

In this round of Community Enrichment Mini-Grants, The Arts Council received 15 applications and selected 10 to receive awards of $500 each. The next due date for mini-grant applications is April 25 by 5:00 p.m. for projects taking place June 1 – September 30, 2016.

Projects selected are:

ABC of NC, a non-profit providing services for children with autism and their families, will collaborate with K Wood, a local artist and former art teacher, to work with the children enrolled in ABC of NC’s academic program to create original art using a variety of media and techniques and prepare for a gallery show in April 2016.

* Clemmons Elementary School After-school Art Program, a grassroots after-school arts program spearheaded by Kristina Stevenson, will have Mary Crockett, local artist, work with 60 students to create a variety of artworks which will be on display in downtown Clemmons in May 2016.

*Dale Link and Friends will make quilts this spring and summer for 500 Pre-K students at 12 Title 1 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools. These quilts will be used for nap-time providing security and comfort for students, as well as teaching them responsibility for taking care of their belongings. Students choose their blankets and have them personalized.

*Forsyth Education Partnership in collaboration with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will present the eighth annual Poet Laureate Competition for high school students and host a reception for all participating students.  A chapbook will be printed with all poetry submissions and paired with student art work.

Helen Simoneau Danse will present “On Site/ In Site: A downtown Winston-Salem Dance Festival,” a three-day dance festival May 5-7 and free to the community. The festival will include pop-up performances, dance classes, and rooftop performances.  Community partners include DADA’s Gallery Hop, Krankies Coffee, Bailey Park, Mary’s Gourmet Diner, and Paz Studio on Trade Street.

*Lotus & Phoenix Dance will present “Global Dance Journey for Seniors,” a one-hour program of cultural dances and hands-on movement for seniors in retirement communities. The program will highlight dances from Chinese, Middle Eastern and Latin cultures with modified movement exercises to allow participants to stand or remain safely seated in wheelchairs.

*NC Brass Band will perform a concert at Ardmore Baptist Church on May 22, open to the public. The concert will feature works of the traditional brass band genre, transcriptions of music for orchestra, wind band, and choir as well as other styles such as jazz and pop.

*Piedmont Chamber Singers will present a concert entitled “Liberty” at Ardmore Baptist Church on April 23. It will feature the Twin City Choristers, the Winston-Salem Girls’ Chorus, and Parkland High School Chorus.

*Piedmont Craftsmen will partner with Habitat for Humanity to create public art in collaboration with the community around the 14th Street and University Parkway area.

Artist Patrick Robertson will work with home owners to design and create this site-specific artwork. This grant will cover the planning stages.

• Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Theatre Students will present the second Annual Twin City High School Excellence in Theatre Arts (THETA) Awards on May 20. Modeled after the Tony Awards, the THETA Awards will allow students to come together in celebration and recognition of this year’s high school theatre performances.

For more information about community Enrichment Mini-Grants contact Dara Silver, Senior Administrative Assistant, Special Projects, and Grant Program Manager at 336-747-1426 or dsilver@intot-hearts.org.