Tryon Fine Arts Center, in collaboration with the Transylvania Community Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Henderson County, announces the Regional Artist Project Grantees for 2013-14.

This grant is for artists who wish to further their professional careers by purchasing equipment and materials, attending professional development workshops or paying expenses for projects they’re developing.

The Arts Council of Henderson County administers the grants as a Designated County Partner with the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. Funds from the North Carolina Arts Council are matched by the three participating counties.

A total of $4,000 in RAPG funds were awarded to the following Polk County artists:

Carol Swetman, a watercolor artist from Polk County, will attend an intensive resident watercolor workshop by Keiko Tanabe, who will be teaching “Capturing Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor” at Kanuga Watermedia Workshops.

Jennifer “Finn” Ferrell and Mike Odle, working as collaborating artists from Polk County, are receiving funds to support the creation of their unique community-based theatre project based on “Firebird.”

Fourteen applications were received from across the three counties, and five artists were awarded grants ranging from $600 to $992.

“The range of projects was very diverse this year, with grant applications requesting support for performance, film and literary artists, as well as visual artists,” said Patty Smyers, administrator for the Regional Artist Project Grants.

– article submitted
by Marianne Carruth