For Immediate Release: October 30, 2008
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
IAC awards 17 Major grants totaling $110,000
(DES MOINES, Iowa)— The Iowa Arts Council has awarded 17 major arts and organizational grants totaling $110,000 to individuals and organizations serving Iowans across the state.
IAC, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, received 73 Major grant requests totaling $614,274 this fall to fund projects developed by individual artists, arts organizations, community groups and schools working to bring excellence in the arts to Iowans.
Each Major grant application could receive a possible total score of 44 points during the review process. Although a score of 33 or above would be considered fundable, the amount of available funding did not allow for grants scoring under 36.67, leaving many worthwhile projects unfunded.
The program emphasizes artistic excellence, service to Iowans, and solid project planning and implementation. Applicants may request up to $10,000 in matching funds but no more than 50 percent of the project’s total expenses.
Today’s announcement marks the second phase of Major grant funding for FY2009.
In April, IAC received 78 eligible Major grant applications for the first round of FY2009 Major grant funding. Applicants requested a total of $667,837 for Arts projects. Twenty-six projects were selected for funding, with grant awards totaling $194,600.
More information about IAC’s Major grant program is available at www.iowaartscouncil.org. The following projects were awarded IAC Major grant funding this fall:
(City)
(Name of Recipient)
(Grant Amount)
(Title of Project)
(Description)
Ames
Mary Swander
$4,300
Patches: A Search for Irish CitizenshipWith support from this grant, artist Mary Swander will write a non-fiction travelogue called “Patches: In Search of Irish Citizenship.” She will travel to Claddaghduff, Ireland, to study the history, folklore, and natural and agricultural history of her ancestral farm in the town of Patches where her maternal grandfather (who eventually immigrated to Iowa) was born.
Bondurant
Kali J. Van Baale
$4,400
Untitled Third Novel
Author Kali Van Baale will use IAC funding to assist in research and to complete a first draft of an untitled third novel: the story of Emma Wheeler, a young Iowa woman suffering from social anxiety disorder and her unlikely relationship with Andrew Hochstedler, a new neighbor who recently left his Amish community.
Davenport
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
$4,600
Symphony Day
The Quad City Symphony will use IAC grant funds to underwrite the production of the 26th Annual Symphony Day on April 1, 2009, at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. This event is home to 7,000 area students each year, introducing them to live classical music in a professional theater.
Decorah
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
$8,500
Virtual Portfolio of Norwegian-American Folk Artists
With IAC grant funding, Vesterheim Museum will create a virtual portfolio of the 106 American artists who have achieved the highest level of excellence in traditional Norwegian folk arts, the Vesterheim Gold Medal. The Gold Medal has been awarded since 1969 and is based on peer evaluation during an annual national judged exhibition.
Des Moines
Center for Shakespeare Performance and Study
$8,500
Free Radio and Live Theatre Outreach Shows for Free Shakespeare Festival
IAC funding will support the Center for Shakespeare Performance and Study for 11 pivotal artist positions supporting outreach performances for a free Central Iowa Shakespeare Festival of live stage plays plus radio theater (accessible statewide). IAC rostered artist Lorenzo Sandoval creates innovative Shakespeare adaptations (some Spanish-infused). The festival fosters 120 new artist positions; this project creates 96.
Des Moines
Inmate Art
$8,500
Inmate Arts: Spring 2009
Inmate Art helps women incarcerated at the Iowa Correctional Institute in Mitchellville to change their lives and futures through the power of art. Painter Mary Muller and a team of artists will use IAC funding to visit the prison weekly to teach classes. Inmate work will be exhibited in three Des Moines area venues.
Des Moines
Iowa Historical Foundation
$8,500
History Through the Arts: Spring 2009
IAC funding supports History Through the Arts as it brings history to life for Iowa K-12 students through fine arts and humanities programming at the State Historical Museum. Students spend a day at the museum where they attend a live performance and participate in interactive workshops in art, music, dance, theater and other related subjects.
Des Moines
Repertory Theater of Iowa
$4,600
Repertory Theater of Iowa presents “Love for Short” by Anton Chekhov
IAC funding supports “Love for Short” by Anton Chekhov Feb. 26-Mar. 15, 2009, at Iowa Public Theatre. Laughter and pursuit of love land the closing kiss of RTI’s 2008-09 season. “Love for Short” showcases RTI’s talented ensemble and allows central Iowans to enjoy new adaptations of classic comedies by one of the world’s master writers.
Des Moines
Westminster Presbyterian Church
$8,500
Westminster Fine Arts Series – Spring 2009
The 2008/2009 Westminster Fine Arts Series is a free, family-friendly, public arts event presented at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. The spring series, supported by this IAC grant, includes vocal and instrumental concerts and the creation of an original children’s performance combining music, dance and drama produced by Iowa artists.
Fairfield
Jefferson County Trails Council
$8,500
Art Enhancements for Bridge Over Highway 1
This project will result in completed plans and fabricator-ready visuals for art enhancements for the trail approaches at the Highway One Trail Bridge in Fairfield, Iowa. IAC funding will support The Jefferson County Trails Council to hire the design services of public artist Judy Bales to develop and complete design concepts.
Iowa City
Patrick Bloom
$7,800
Patrick Bloom – Recording, Manufacturing and Marketing for New Album
IAC grant funding will be used for audio recording, manufacturing, publicity and radio promotion for Patrick Bloom on Iowa City’s Mud Dauber Records. The project will employ Iowa musicians Billy Valencia, James Robinson, Megan Valencia, Nathan Basinger, David Zollo, Jon Eric and Randall Davis, and will be produced in Iowa.
Iowa City
Arian Hamidi
$4,300
Self-Portrait of Others
Ariana Hamidi will use IAC grant funding for post-production (editing and distribution) support for “Self-Portrait of Others,” a 15-minute experimental 16mm silent film that blurs the distinctions between fiction storytelling and personal autobiography.
Lovilia
Joseph Plum
$8,000
Poetry in the Oral Tradition
IAC grant funding will support the creation and production of a DVD and accompanying book that will include the written copy of the poetry from that DVD. When completed, a reader’s tour will follow in the spring through fall of 2009 to introduce this new work to the public.
Marion
Red Cedar Chamber Music
$8,300
Home Sweet Home: After the Flood
With IAC grant funding, 25 concerts and educational events will bring the chamber music of Stephen Foster and his contemporaries (popular when Iowa became a State in 1846) in January-February 2009 to Eastern Iowa communities in the aftermath of the Flood of 2008. Three of the four musicians are rostered Iowa artists.
Mason City
Stebens Children’s Theatre
$4,400
Why Mosquitoes Buzz
Stebens Children’s Theatre will use IAC funding to produce and tour Jeremy Kisling’s unpublished African tale, “Why Mosquitoes Buzz,” to 30 elementary schools, churches and libraries Jan. 10-June 30, 2009. Professional actors and designers Tom Ballmer, Michelle Murray, Suzan Larson and Wendy Meineke will ensure this high-quality arts project fulfills its goals.
Sioux City
Irving Elementary
$4,800
Irving Beat
Irving Elementary is using the World Music Drumming curriculum for more than 600 students. With IAC grant funding, percussion techniques will be developed and music skills expanded. Paul Corbiere will come for a residency to teach the students drumming skills. Tubanos, student books and shelving will be purchased.
Waterloo
Metropolitan Chorale
$3,500
Metropolitan Chorale Spring 2009 Concert with Ames Children’s Choir
The Metropolitan Chorale of the Cedar Valley will use IAC funding to collaborate with the Ames Children’s Choir to present John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” on Sunday, May 3, 2009, at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls.
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The Iowa Arts Council is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and works to enrich the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. Funding for the Iowa Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.