I was too late for the opening performance by Boitumelo/Deja Vu. But I made it to the Arts Council Northeast luncheon at Tarrant County College earlier this week in time for barbecue. And more important, the chance to watch the checks handed out. The council supports artists and arts groups doing work in 16 communities in North Tarrant County, and the lunch Monday was to recognize the most recent round of grant recipients. Grant amounts varied, ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,700. A total of $30,000 was distributed.
I got to chat a bit with members of the Jazz Monsters Big Band, Boitumelo and the Northeast Orchestra. Christopher Blay filled me in on the story-collection project he’ll be doing in Haltom City (sounds a little like Story Corps.) And Les Jordan III, head of North Central Ballet, was celebrating the conclusion of a production of Cinderella. I came away impressed with their efforts and with the variety of opportunities to perform, or just enjoy, the arts in these areas.
You can learn more about the Arts Council Northeast, its programs and grant opportunities, at its web site. And check out their flickr stream for photos from the lunch.
Here are the recipients:
- Regal Opera Company, for the production Little Mary Sunshine (sponsored by Lexus)
- Trinity Arts Guild, for TAG juried art shows (sponsored by Lexus)
- Artisan Center Theater, for production of Camelot (Bates Container)
- Keller High School Voices for Choir Booster Club, for “Music of the Masters (Bates Container)
- North Central Civic Ballet, for Nutcracker Children’s Charity Performance (Cook Children’s Medical Center)
- Northeast Orchestra, for 2010-11 concert season (The TRE)
The following grants were sponsored by Arts Council Northeast and Texas Commission on the Arts:
- 9-11 Memorial Foundation, for 343 Never Forgotten
- Boitumelo, for Passport to Arts Education
- Christopher Blay, for Haltom City Stories
- City of Keller, for Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performance
- Frontier Brigade Band, for Music from the Civil War
- Grapevine High School PTSA, for SAC lunch music series
- Haltom City public library, for Art Wednesdays
- Jackie Berry, for Goober and the kids sculptor
- Jazz Monsters Big Band, for Big Band Jazz Benefit
- Laurie Gowland, for Donna Park Elementary stained glass window
- Lisa Dalton, for Two Chekhovs
- Martha Valdes, for Project Ole Performance
- Metro Praise Youth Orchestra, for youth orchestra
- OhLook Performing Arts Center, for 2011 spring production
- Richland Area Band Boosters, for All That Jazz performance
- Snow Heights Elementary PTA, for Fine Arts Day, 2011
- The Blue Shoe Project, for the Blue Shoe Project
- The End of the Runway Players, Inc, for 2010-2011 Main Season
- Young Artists of Texas, for Art in the Square
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