Educators in eight area k-12 schools have been selected to receive funding of up to $500 each to carry out arts-related projects in the 2014-2015 school year provided through a Tryon Fine Arts Center program supporting teachers and creativity in the classroom. The mini-grant program, titled Be Inspired Grant (B.I.G.), is managed by Arts in Education Committee Chair, Sue Z. Truitt and TFAC Education Director Marianne Carruth.
“The BIG Grant program provided a variety opportunities for teachers and students from Saluda to Inman,” says Sue Z. Truitt. “Teachers received funding to purchase drums, materials for mosaics, hire professional artists to teach in the classroom, as well as to purchase basic things such as clay for young students to work with and transportation to see professional performances.”
Money for the program is provided through private donors, as well as the Rotary Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of Tryon. The competitive grants were offered to K-12 teachers in Polk County and Spartanburg County District One Schools, as well as registered non-public schools. Teachers were asked to briefly describe the project, explaining how it will use the arts to enhance learning in the classroom, describe the outcomes they wish to achieve, and provide an itemized budget. Ninteen applications were received in mid-June.
At the end of June community residents from Polk and Spartanburg Counties met for a single session to evaluate the grant requests. None of the evaluators currently works for or has children in any of the schools, but all share a common passion for children, arts and education. Each request was scored considering its impact, creativity, activities and goals, relevance to the arts, budget and overall presentation.
Following the evaluation session, the scores were tallied with the highest scores receiving full funding until $5000 was met. TFAC will be holding a reception to award the grant funding for the teachers and their principals, as well as school administrators on August 20 in the Mahler Board Room.
Funding is needed to continue the TFAC Arts in Education Be Inspired Grant program. Tax-deductible donations by individuals and businesses can be given to TFAC and used directly in this program. Donors are invited to attend the August 20 reception.
Dottie Kinlaw, principal of Polk Central Elementary School in Polk County says of the B.I.G. Grant Program, “Our staff recognizes the importance of the role of arts in the overall education of a child. Polk Central School appreciates the opportunities that B.I.G. Grants offer the students in our school and district, as well as other surrounding districts. We wholeheartedly endorse the continuation of these grants and hope that the funding for the grants will continue.”
Tryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC) is a nonprofit organization that operates and programs a 300 seat performance venue and a 150 seat amphitheater for music, theatre, dance and lectures on Melrose Avenue in Tryon, N.C. In addition to presenting programming for a wide variety of audiences, TFAC also makes the arts accessible to local students through education and outreach programs.
For more information or to contribute, call TFAC Education Director Marianne Carruth at 828-859-8322, ext. 213 or email marianne@tryonarts.org.

– article submitted
by Marianne Carruth