Darke County
Endowment for the Arts announces grant awards
Darke County Endowment for the Arts recently granted funds to six
applicants who submitted requests for financial assistance for their
arts-related projects. According to DCEA Chair Marilyn Delk, one of
DCEA's major purposes is to assist organizations and individuals in
achieving artistic goals that benefit the citizens of Darke County. The
grants were awarded to: Marcus York, Greenville Municipal Band, the
Annie Oakley Committee, Friends of the Cardinal Center, Darke County
Park District, and Main Street Greenville.
“All of the applications this year were worthy of support, and will
provide opportunities for enjoyment of the arts by a broad range of
people; this year's grants will financially assist an art camp, an art
exhibit, musical performances, and other cultural presentations,” Mrs.
Delk stated. “We look forward to the community embracing the
opportunities provided by the programs we've funded,” she concluded.
With financial assistance from DCEA, Marcus York will bring an art
exhibit to the Clark Gallery at Bear's Mill featuring former local
residents Marilee Pallant, a watercolorist and photographer who taught
at Arcanum High school for many years, and painter Christopher Madden,
a 1981 Arcanum graduate who literally makes money in his day job as an
engraver for the U.S. Treasury Department. Greenville Municipal Band's
popular annual concert series in Greenville City Park has provided free
entertainment to generations of local residents. The granted funds from
the Endowment will be used to help cover operating costs including
musicians' fees so that this summer tradition can continue to fill
summer nights with music for Darke Countians of all ages.
DCEA will also assist another local tradition, the Annie Oakley
Festival, which provides cultural enrichment for our community in a
variety of ways. In addition to furnishing a venue for Darke County
Civic Theatre's melodrama and a “Western Arts Showcase,” the Annie
Oakley Committee offers a free historical bus tour throughout the
festival's 3-day run. The Friends of the Cardinal Center who are
working to preserve the historical and educational heritage of
Gettysburg School will host a free arts camp this summer. Endowment
funds will help offset the cost of materials, instruction, and
facilities.
In addition to music augmenting the Prairie Days Festival, Darke County
Park District will present a Summer Concert at Shawnee Prairie
Preserve's outdoor amphitheater; performers include Higgins-Madewell,
Joseph, Silver Grass, and Berachah Valley. DCEA funding will help
compensate the artists at these free events celebrating the cultural
heritage of the area. Main Street Greenville requested funds to
initiate Street Arts Saturdays, presenting high quality performing and
visual artists on the streets of Greenville during warm weather months.
This concept is a work-in-progress, so although funds have been
allocated, disbursement will not occur until concrete plans are in
place.
DCEA is a non-profit organization that receives and manages charitable
gifts that are invested to produce income benefitting the arts in Darke
County. For more information, contact a member of DCEA's governing
board; in addition to Mrs. Delk trustees are Suzi Brown, David Feltman,
Tom Graber, Barbara Greiner, Becky Hartnagle, and Andrea Jordan. Julie
Strait serves as DCEA treasurer.
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