The Rowan Arts Council board of directors has approved four Rowan Investment Company Arts-in-Education grants for projects to be completed in 2009.
Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society received $900 to send composer Micah Levy to work with students at Erwin Middle School on a project involving poetry writing and musical composition.
Piedmont Dance Theatre is awarded $1,000 to give an educational performance of The Nutcracker ballet for third-grade students in Rowan.
Spencer Partnerships is awarded $1,000 so North Rowan High School students can work with professional artist Marty Lineberger and volunteers to create a wall mural at the Spencer Little League ball park.
The Rowan-Salisbury School System is awarded $1,000 to send artists Tim and Lisa Kluttz, to work with fifth-grade students at Enochville Elementary School to create a collaborative collage of recycled materials.
“We are gratified by community response to this grant opportunity,” Rowan Arts Council Executive Director Marietta Smith said. “The projects will enhance the education of so many students in Rowan County and we’re especially pleased that the projects represent elementary, middle and high school levels. We look forward to providing additional grants later in the year as a result of ‘Light up the Night for the Arts’ and gifts from sponsors and members. It is clear that our community cares about children’s education.”
Funding for these grants was made possible by contributions from Rowan Investment Company, F&M Bank and other sponsors and individual contributors.
The Arts Council will offer other Arts-In-Education grant opportunities throughout the year. Information will be available on the agency’s Web site, www.rowanarts.org.