WS Chronicle

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has announced its second 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. This program is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

“These summer mini-grants will provide free cultural neighborhood programming and support many youth opportunities to engage with the arts and reach from Lewisville to Kernersville” said Dara Silver, Grant Program Manager for The Arts Council. “We continue to be inspired by the ideas and initiatives coming from individuals, churches, community organizations, and businesses that have the desire to make a difference in our community through the arts.”
Projects selected:

*ABC of NC is a nonprofit providing services for children with autism and their families. They will partner with Peppercorn Theater to provide a visiting artist to work with their students, host the cast of The Tourist Trap, and purchase supplies so children can make their own puppets.

*Mayson Marshall (student) and Wendy Broadstreet (English teacher) will start an after-school creative writing club at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. The club will inspire and support students to write stories, songs, poems, and essays. Funding will be used to bring in Melissa McLeod, creative writing instructor, author, and songwriter for three sessions with the club.

*Delta Arts Center will host a Haitian Community Day on August 27 in conjunction with their current exhibition, “Selebrasyon! Haitian Art from Local Collections.” The event will feature a local Haitian food truck vendor, King-Queen Haitian Cuisine, entertainment by local percussionist and scholar on African Diaspora Music, Oesiku Dan, traditional Haitian dancers, and a performance by Kernersville’s First Haitian Wesleyan Church. Eyeglasses will be collected for ongoing relief efforts and sent to Haiti.

*Insight Human Services in partnership with Un Nuevo Renecer De Reyes y Sarcerdotes Ubicados in Kernersville will create summer enrichment opportunities for the Hispanic community. Three weeks of summer programming will be offered for youth 5-19 focusing on arts, culture, gardening and civic involvement.

*Mami Wata Cultural Arts Collective will provide five weeks of summer program enrichment for youth at Alders Point Senior Apartments in the Happy Hill neighborhood in partnership with the William C. Sims, Sr. Recreation Center. The program will feature storytelling, writing, and illustration by local artists, Amatullah Saleem and Gilbert Young.

*New Winston Museum partnered with artist Owens Daniels to present his photography exhibition, “The Birth of the Cool” this past June. The exhibition featured local jazz and blues musicians who have contributed to our local musical heritage and beyond.

*Olivia Sledge will provide a series of Community Bantabas (The Dancing Ground), a West African tradition of communal gathering, fellowship, and cultural affirmation. These free events will feature African drumming and dancers, songs, games, and educational activities in a variety of neighborhoods.

*Paper Lantern Theatre Company will present BORN BAD by award winning playwright debbie tucker green, August 25-September 4 at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. The work is based on contemporary African-American themes and will be directed by Ms. Donna Bradby, NC A&T professor and feature a diverse cast.

*The inaugural Sowing Seeds Children’s Festival will feature areas for children to sell their own art, children’s music and performing arts, along with a make-your-own craft area. The festival will be held on September 25 at Bailey Park. Partners include Imagination Installations, Arts Based School, and Temple Emmanuel.

*Spring Arts Festival took place on June 4 at The Coffee Mill in Lewisville. This free festival featured over 40 artisans who sold all handmade arts and crafts. Community partners included Piedmont Transit Authority, Animal Hospital of Lewisville, the Lewisville Historical Society, The Olio Glass Studio, and The Produce Box.

*The Basement Tattoo and Beauty Studio will host a Summer Youth Camp taught by artists Shawn Wright and Erran Hamlin. Youth will be from the area surrounding the tattoo shop in East Winston who are primarily at-risk and in need of summer enrichment and mentorship.

*The Engaging Educator, Jen Brown, will present her workshop, “Presentation Skills through Improv,” to John F. Kennedy High School students in September. Improvisational theatre increases confidence and begins mastery of public speaking, as well as enhances leadership skills, initiative and positive risk-taking.

*Winston-Salem Youth Chorus will acquire 50 recorders (musical instruments) for their singers to play in their upcoming season and in community outreach events, specifically a new partnership with the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Mary Starling Program.

In this round of Community Enrichment Mini-Grants, The Arts Council received 26 applications and selected 13 to receive awards of $500 each. To date, 50 mini-grants have been awarded totaling $25,000.
The next due date for mini-grant applications are Sept. 1 by 5 p.m. for projects taking place Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2016.

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@intothearts.org.