CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Sept. 16 the awarding of $763,044 in grant funds to support and build the arts in community and statewide programs across West Virginia.
“Our state is filled with a rich history and a robust artistic culture,” Gov. Tomblin said. “The arts not only connect us to our past, but also to our family, friends and the communities we call home. It is my hope this grant funding will allow today’s recipients to continue their efforts to strengthen and build West Virginia’s arts community now and for years to come.”
The total grant funding was allocated as follows:
$20,000 in American Masterpiece Grant Funds, 2 grantees;
$497,067 in Arts Partners Grant Funds, 12 grantees;
$40,000 in Challenge America Grant Funds, 4 grantees;
$205,977 in Community Arts Project Support Grant Funds, 22 grantees.
The American Masterpiece grant provides funding to support access to and deeper experiences of American masterpieces and works of American masters. Funding was awarded to the following American Masterpiece recipients:
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Greenbrier Valley Repertory Theatre – $10,000
KANAWHA COUNTY
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences Charleston – $10,000
The Arts Partners grant provides general operating support to long-standing, stable art organizations. Funding was awarded to the following Arts Partners recipients:
CABELL COUNTY
Huntington Museum of Art – $72,459
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Carnegie Hall – $39,420
Greenbrier Repertory Theatre Company – $45,541
KANAWHA COUNTY
Charleston Ballet – $23,603
Clay Center for Arts & Sciences – $63,119
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – $56, 975
MORGAN COUNTY
Morgan Arts Council – $17,421
OHIO COUNTY
Oglebay Institute – $54,201
Wheeling Symphony Society Inc. – $52,008
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Randolph County Community Arts – $22,047
WOOD COUNTY
ArtsBridge – $18,809
Parkersburg Arts Center – $31,464
The Challenge America grant provides funding for innovative projects that provide arts education to community members, expand or improve access to art experiences, use the arts as a catalyst for change, address cultural tourism and celebrate the unique characteristics of the arts in West Virginia, or create strong communities through the arts. Funding was awarded to the following Challenge America recipients:
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Carnegie Hall – $15,000
JEFFERSON COUNTY
CraftWorks at Cool Spring – $9,445
KANAWHA COUNTY
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – $11,922
OHIO COUNTY
Wheeling Symphony Society – $3,633
The Community Arts grant provides funds that support for projects that offer arts programming to the public and planning and organizational development projects that strengthen West Virginia arts organizations. Funding was awarded to the following Community Arts recipients:
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Trillium Collective LTD – $13,154
WV Arts Presenters Inc. – $17,138
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Contemporary American Theater Festival – $11,338
KANAWHA COUNTY
Charleston Chamber Music Society – $6,275
Charleston West Side Main Street Inc. – $3,328
Friends of the Alban Arts & Conference Center – $6,887
Kanawha Valley FOOTMAD – $5,620
Unity of Kanawha Valley – $2,956
MARION COUNTY
Fairmont Chamber Music Society – $4,035
Fairmont State University – $6,206
MERCER COUNTY
Charles T. Chuck Mathena II Foundation Inc. – $18,000
MINERAL COUNTY
Highland Arts Unlimited Inc. – $8,278
MINGO COUNTY
Tug Valley Arts Council Inc. – $7,498
MONONGALIA COUNTY
Golden Horseshoe Inc. – $4,625
MORGAN COUNTY
Morgan Arts Council – $11,136
POCAHONTAS COUNTY
Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation – $6,699
RALEIGH COUNTY
WV Professional Dance Company – $7,657
Youth Museum of Southern WV – $17,997
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Augusta Heritage Center – $19,000
WETZEL & TYLER COUNTIES
ArtsLink Inc. – $11,821
WOOD COUNTY
Mid-Ohio Valley Symphony Society – $10,176
WVU at Parkersburg – $6,153