(UNDATED) – In association with the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Midwest announced today the awarding of ten grants totaling $29,225 to Indiana communities as part of the Rural Indiana Performance Fund.
The Rural Indiana Performance Fund, a partnership between Arts Midwest and the Indiana Arts Commission, engages people in meaningful experiences with the fine arts of dance, music, theater or musical theater, and other performing art forms throughout rural Indiana.
Grant Recipients:
Mitchell Opera House, in Mitchell, received $3,000.
Musician Mark Wills will present a public concert. The audience will be encouraged to stay after the show and meet directly with the artist. Mark has been to the Mitchell Opera House in the past and has done meet-and-greet events lasting hours to ensure that he got to meet everyone who wanted to speak with him.
Pied Piper Productions in Salem received $3,000.
Pied Piper Children’s Theatre is unique in its community as it offers opportunities to young people not provided by other organizations. The theatre is the sole gateway through which students access cultural and educational experiences which open their minds to a larger world. This grant will bring professional storyteller and Salem-native AJ Clauss to town to provide one of those opportunities.
Southwest School Corporation in Sullivan received $3,000.
This grant will bring in the IU Singing Hoosiers’ Director and Choreographer and a sign language interpreter to teach a song to Sullivan High School’s Golden Arrow Singers. The Golden Arrow Singers will then perform in both SWSC elementary and middle schools to provide cross-curricular teaching of music and American Sign Language (ASL).
Clay Community Schools in Brazil received $3,000.
Musician Paul Sperrazza will travel to Brazil, Indiana to work with Middle School and High School Choral students. This grant will give students a chance to be on stage with a world-renowned contemporary a cappella performer.Â
Future of Carthage in Carthage received $3,000.
The Dusty Miller Band will perform at the family-oriented Carthage Freedom Festival. A 30 minutes meet and greet with the public before the concert will give the community first-hand knowledge of what it takes to be a musician. The grant will also fund a meet and greet specifically for K-12 students at the local library for a one of a kind experience for kids who might never otherwise meet a professional musician.
Town of Cumberland in Hancock County received $3,000
Blues musician Biscuit Miller will entertain the Town of Cumberland at the community’s annual Blues, Beer and BBQ family-friendly gathering at a neighborhood park. During his performance, Biscuit Miller will bring someone up from the audience, and give them an impromptu bass guitar lesson.
Dillsboro Arts in Dearborn County received $2,225.
International jazz singer Mandy Gains will perform as part of Dillsboro Arts’ open air America/roots concert series. The community will have three opportunities to enjoy her music with the added addition of a meet and greet with Mandy and other participating musicians.
City of Knox in Starke County received $3,000.
The Magic Bus band was formed in 2009 by their founder Mark Harrington whose love for the Woodstock era music, and the colorful groups that performed during the mid-60’s, became his inspiration in bringing this band to life. Magic Bus will perform and host a meet and greet during the City of Knox’s annual Fall Bash in Wythogan Park.
Middlebury in Elkhart County received $3,000.
The Bergamot band is comprised of South Bend natives, now Brooklyn based husband-wife duo Nathaniel Hoff and Jillian Speece. The Bergamot will perform as part of a public performance and conversation. This grant will allow Middlebury, a bustling, industrious small town, the opportunity for experiencing, interpreting, and enjoying performing arts.
Ohio County Convention, Tourism, and Visitors Commission in Rising Sun received $3,000.
Belairs Show Band is a Las Vegas-style musical tribute band that will perform as part of the annual “A Hot Summer Night” event in downtown Rising Sun. Rising Sun has a large senior citizen population with many assisted living/senior housing communities within blocks of the performance area. This grant gives the opportunity for a local arts and cultural experience that many residents would not have otherwise.Â
