For Immediate Release: April 21, 2008
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 $15,000 in the April round of Mini Grants to organizations and individuals in Des Moines, Fairfield, Manning, Maquoketa, Muscatine, Pella, Red Oak, Sioux City, Waterloo and West Liberty. IAC received 32 eligible applications with requests totaling more than $43,000.
Mini Grants are awarded each month, and applicants may request up to $1,500 in funding, which they must match.
“This was a tough grant review round, because we had so many more applications than we normally receive. However, the diverse group of projects in this list is exciting,” said Mary Sundet Jones, Iowa Arts Council administrator. “These public funds are truly supporting meaningful projects for artists and communities. 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.
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.
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Iowa Arts Council APRIL 2008 Mini Grant Awards
Missoula Children’s Theatre
Performing Arts and Education Association of SW Iowa, Red Oak
$1,500
The Performing Arts and Education Association of Southwest Iowa will collaborate with the Wabash Arts Camp to present Missoula Children’s Theatre July 7-12. MCT will conduct auditions and be in residence with two performances at the Gladys Wirsig Jones auditorium at the Shenandoah High School.
Gulizia Residency
Irving Elementary, Sioux City
$1,500
The Gulizia Brothers will visit Irving Elementary School in Sioux City May 5-8 and work with the drumming classes, present world music to all of the grades and have both an assembly-style presentation for the school and a community-based program in the evening.
Creative Expression with Puppetry
Oak Park Elementary School, Des Moines
$1,500
Students will make puppets of various types with the help and expertise of staff members Lori Bonz and Carrie Moton. Funding supports payment to artists Carol Taylor and Bettie Jane Bibler to perform and work with students on learning puppetry techniques and performing multi-cultural folk tales.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration with Children’s Choir
Ed East, Waterloo
$1,500
On May 3, up to 300 Des Moines children will sing in a professional Latin music production that celebrates Hispanic cultures in Iowa. The children’s choir will accompany Iowa ensembles Orquesta Alto Maiz, the Afro-Latin Project, and Calle Sure in a family-oriented concert at 95KGGO Arena in Urbandale.
Sound Installation for “Portrait of Maquoketa”
Rose Frantzen, Maquoketa
$1,500
While painting portraits of 180 Maquoketans for “Portrait of Maquoketa,” artist Rose Frantzen heard wonderful stories of life in small town Iowa. She recorded many of these stories for a sound installation meant to accompany a permanent display of these portraits, and she will use IAC funding to hire a sound editor to complete this project.
Boys and Girls By Number
Cody Gieselman, Iowa City
$550
Cody Gieselman will complete two murals for a show May 3-24. He will set up the installation and coordinate with the audience in order to complete the artwork.
Spreading the Word
Bishop Hayes Catholic School, Muscatine
$950
Funding supports payment for photographer Robert Campagna to spend five days in a photography/writing unit with 15 5th grade students researching and teaching the history of Muscatine.
Eulenspiegel Puppets Workshops & Performances
Pella Community Art Center, Pella
$1,500
Pella Community Art Center will hire Eulenspiegel Puppets to work with intergenerational community members to rehears and perform “Portraits of the Prairie,” Aug. 14-16. The community will explore the history of Iowa’s changing landscape and have the opportunity to make their own puppets.
Building a Bilingual Community Show
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Co., West Liberty
$1,500
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre will build a show that can be toured to other communities and rehearsed and performed using community members as puppeteers. The script will be adapted from a Mexican folk tale and will have an English as well as a Spanish version.
Junkyard Symphony at Youth Arts Festival
1st Fridays Art Walk of Fairfield, Fairfield
$1,500
Junkyard Symphony, an international percussion/circus group that entertains and educates using ordinary, recycled objects, will perform twice and conduct a rhythm workshop for young people as part of 1st Fridays Art Walk’s annual Youth Arts Festival May 2-3.
“Three A’s of Education” Artwork
Manning Community School, Manning
$1,500
With grant funding, this project showcases Manning Community School’s pride in education with a three-column art piece designed and created by Chelsie Mayer. The art piece reflects the three “A’s” of education: academics, athletics and the arts. The piece will be completed by June 2008.
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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 and learning in Iowa communities by encouraging excellence in the arts through leadership, grants and technical assistance. 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.