Reception to honor State of the Arts grant recipients

Hala Laquidara, Arts Business Development Coordinator for the St Johns Cultural Council, invited Historic City News readers to join them on Monday, November 19, 2018 to celebrate the State of the Arts Grants that were awarded to arts organizations and artists in our community.

The St. Johns Cultural Council will host a reception for the grant recipients and the community. This lively gathering is free and open to the public. The reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum of Flagler College. Come hear the compelling stories of the artists and organizations while enjoying light snacks and beverages.

“These small grants have a big impact. We are proud to support so many worthy programs that help youth, elders, schools, and artists engage in valuable community development.”

Andrew Witt, Cultural Council Executive Director

The Cultural Council provides small grants of up to $500 for arts and cultural activities within St. Johns County from funding made possible through the sale of State of the Arts license plates in St. Johns County. Twice a year, the State of the Arts Committee selects worthy programs to fund that enhance and enrich the arts and cultural activities within St. Johns County. Priority is given to proposals for activities that reach underserved audiences, arts education, and art in public places.

The Fall 2018 grantees represent a diverse range of cultural activities, serving diverse populations. Past funding has included projects such as sewing lessons at the Main Library, at-risk students were given the chance to learn to create art as an incentive to complete homework, community members of all ages had an opportunity to join a drum circle for an educational experience that promotes the arts and to feel a sense of community.

The Florida Arts License Plate Program was created in 1994. Each license plate generates twenty dollars for this designated fund. The application process for these micro-grants is opened twice a year and awards are made based on the number of art tags sold. This year more applications than ever before were received, making grant selection a highly competitive process. Funds are used to support arts organizations, programs, and activities within the county of license plate revenue. Award winners were selected according to compliance with the grant guidelines.