(May 21, 2014) Jackson TN – Melinda Hearn, Executive Director of the Jackson Arts Council, announces funding for arts projects through the Jackson Arts Council (JAC) Grant Program. As part of the funding process, a citizens’ panel reviewed, ranked, and rated grant applications and met with representatives from organizations applying for funding for arts projects.
Jackson/Madison County non-profit organizations receiving awards and the art projects to which the grant dollars are to be applied are:
$3,900 to The Jackson Symphony to fund the 35th Annual Starlight Symphony
$2,500 to The Jackson Theatre Guild for two stage productions in October and December
$1,750 to Ballet Arts, Inc. to fund professional guest artists for the 33rd annual production of The Nutcracker
$1,600 to The STAR Center to fund the Arts 4 Autism summer camp and art exhibit
$845 to C-MACC to fund art classes for residents of the Dream Center
$824 to The Jackson Choral Society for the concert Songs of the British Isles
$750 to The Friends of the Library to fund a literary symposium with Guggenheim Award-winning author Chris Abani
$205 to Madison Scots to fund The Gathering of the Clans Celtic festival.
In order to receive the grants, each project was evaluated on several criteria, including: artistic merit, the value of the project to the community, and realistic practice in developing the budget. The grants also encourage the organizations to increase their funding, since all the grants require a dollar-for-dollar match. “The Jackson Arts Council is pleased to be able to serve our community in this way,” Hearn said. “This program, which is in its eighth year, advances our mission to ‘Connect and Strengthen the Arts.’ The funded projects help make the arts accessible to the diverse population of Madison County.”
The Citizens’ Review Panel included Ted Austin, Manager of Customer Care for Jackson Energy Authority; Dorcas Davis, Librarian for the University of Memphis—Lambuth Campus; Patty Lewis, member of the Board of Directors for the Jackson Arts Council; and Doug Roth, Senior Vice President & Regional Division Manager at BancorpSouth.
The JAC Grant Program is funded by the Madison County Commission and the Jackson City Council and is administered by the Jackson Arts Council. Funding for the program is contingent upon approval of the FY2014-15 budgets of the City of Jackson and Madison County.
