In an effort to support teachers and creativity in the classroom, Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Arts in Education Committee is working with businesses and individuals to award mini-grants of up to $500 each for arts related projects to educators in Polk County and some schools in Greenville County and Spartanburg County.
Simple applications for these grants, called “Be Inspired Grants” or “BIG”, are available for the schools and on the website. Applications must be delivered to TFAC or postmarked by Friday May 31 at 5 p.m. to be considered for funding in the 2014-2015 school year. Grants will be announced by July 1 and checks will be awarded for the projects at a reception to be held at TFAC in late August.
K-12 teachers in area schools, as well as registered non-public schools will be eligible for funding intended to support the arts in education. Teachers can seek funding for creative classroom projects involving elements of music, dance, sculpture, painting, drawing and other visual, literary, or performing arts. Some possible use of funding could be for art supplies, software, performances, instruments, visiting artists or workshops in which students are directly involved. Subject areas are not limited to Fine Arts, but could be core subjects such as science or math taught using elements of the arts.
“We can also suggest resources available for teachers interested in bringing a professional into their classroom,” says Marianne Carruth, TFAC Director of Arts in Education. “This could be a great opportunity to support students, teachers, and artists all at once!”
Teachers will be asked to briefly describe the project, explaining how it will use the arts to enhance learning in the classroom, and describe the outcomes they wish to achieve and provide an itemized budget. If they receive the grant they will then complete a final report and return it to the Arts Center. The BIG grants are intended to be a simple process, with accountability.
Grants were given last year to 13 Polk County and District One Schools. Projects chosen covered a wide range of uses and included books purchased for a classroom, transportation to professional performances, drums and a banjo for classrooms, a paper making system, professional Shakespearean actor in the classroom, and art supplies such as clay and markers.
The project will be funded up to a total of $5000. Funds are being raised through civic, private and corporate sponsorship. Currently Kiwanis Club of Tryon has stepped up to be one of the sponsors of the mini- grant program. Proceeds from the Evening of Excellence Art Auction on May 17 will also go towards the program. Additional funding is being sought through private and corporate sources.
Board president Tim Brannon says, “We want to help the dedicated creative teachers who might otherwise purchase educational supplies with their own personal funds or be unable to provide the arts experience. This program will also allow our donors to directly support education through the arts.”
For information on sponsoring the B.I.G. Grant program or any questions concerning the BIG Grant project contact Marianne Carruth, TFAC Arts in Education Director. You may reach her by phone at 828-859-8322 ext. 213 or by email at marianne@tryonarts.org .
– article submitted
by Marianne Carrut