For Immediate Release: August 20, 2007
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
Iowa Arts Council Announces Mini Grant Awards
(DES MOINES, Iowa)—The Iowa Arts Council has awarded $9,250 in Mini Grants to organizations and individuals in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Coon Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Oskaloosa and Story City. IAC received 20 eligible applications with requests totaling more than $28,000.
The Iowa Arts Council works to enrich the quality of life and learning in Iowa communities by encouraging excellence in the arts through leadership, grants and technical assistance.
Mini Grants are awarded each month, and applicants may request up to $1,500 in funding, which they must match.
“Each month we get applications for such an amazing range of projects,” said Mary Sundet Jones, Iowa Arts Council administrator. “It really varies – we don’t know from month to month what kinds of applications will come in. What we do know is that these will be terrific projects, and the arts are alive and well in Iowa.”
Applications for Mini Grants must be received the first working day of the month before the intended activity begins. More information and application guidelines and rules can be viewed at www.iowaartscouncil.org.
Iowa Arts Council August 2007 Mini Grant Awards
Stained Glass Panel – Raccoon River Vista
Studio at Hidden Acres Ranch, Coon Rapids
$1,500
Funding will allow artists to design and fabricate a 3’ x 5’
stained glass panel depicting the Middle Raccoon River as it flows through
Coon Rapids. It will be framed in walnut by a local woodworker and hung in
a prominent place in the Coon Rapids Public Library.
“Just Great Songs,” CD Recording
Karla Goettel, Cedar Rapids
$1,500
Karla Goettel, soprano, will record a CD of her eclectic program,
“Just Great Songs.” Goettel is in the process of organizing musical
arrangers, professional musicians and a recording producer. Recording is scheduled
to begin shortly after Sept. 1, with completion in mid-November.
Russ Nordman: Combines
Russ Nordman, Council Bluffs
$750
IAC grant funding will allow the artist to frame a new series of
digital prints entitled COMBINES. The prints will be on display at the Corning
Center for the Fine Arts September 29-October 28 and at the Council Bluffs
Public Library November 10-December 1.
The Garton Connection
Des Moines Independent School District
$1,500
Garton Elementary will conduct a two-week Artist-in-Residency program
with IAC artist Concetta Morales to support the creation of a tile mosaic
wall display in celebration of the merger of Adams and Garton Elementary schools
in the 2007-08 school year. Students will contribute ideas, design and construct
the mosaic.
Indian Classical Music Concert
India Cultural Association of Central Iowa, Ames
$1,000
With IAC funding support, the India Cultural Association of Central
Iowa will host a concert on Indian classical music Sept. 8. The instrumental
music concert will be performed by the Calcutta Quartet, consisting of mridangam
player S. Sekhar, Tabla player Subhen Chatterjee and violin players Deb Sankar
and Jyoti Sankar.
Cross-Continental Spirit: Ray Blue Jazz Symposium
William Penn University, Oskaloosa
$1,500
William Penn University will host a three-day jazz symposium presented
by Ray Blue and band. Their cross-cultural message, an experience merging
American jazz and African jazz, will be presented at four high schools and
William Penn University. The program has three dynamic components: the history
of American jazz; musicianship/ensemble development; and a cultural concert
performance.
STORY! Celebrating the Art of Storytelling
Story City Greater Chamber Connection
$1,500
The 2007 STORY! Will be held September 20-23 and includes three national
storytellers, Jim May, La’Ron Williams and Jennifer Strauss, as well
as Iowa artists JoAnne Lower, Maureen Korte and local talent. Artists will
be in schools, performing concerts and providing workshops for general audiences.