CLAYTON -- The Town of Clayton awarded $10,000 in Arts Grants to three local arts agencies.
The Clayton Youth Theatre won a $5,500 grant that will support a 2012 production and scholarship for program participation. Clayton Visual Arts' $4,000 award will be spent on its monthly rotating art exhibits and a summer art festival. The $500 that the Clayton Band Boosters were awarded will support the annual Band Classic.
Applicants were rated as to their, "community support and benefit, innovation in programming, demonstrable expertise and resources," said Clayton Center Executive Director Heidi Stump. She also noted that the programs' location, potential audiences and compatibility with town goals and programs contributed to the success of the winning respondents.
According to Stump, the three recipients demonstrated value to the community and organizational strength.
"We're happy to be able to continue our support of the arts," said Mayor Jody McLeod, a committee member, "though we would certainly have liked to do more."
"The Cultural Arts Grant funding will be requested in the next fiscal year budget proposal," Stump said. McLeod said the committee hopes that as the economy improves Clayton will be able to increase support for the Arts Grant.
The committee judging the applicants consists of McLeod, Stump, Lyn Austin, president of the Clayton Cultural Arts Foundation and Jim Elmore, music director at First Baptist Church. Each member was appointed by the mayor. They were selected based on experience, appreciation and knowledge of fine arts programming.
Over the past five years the Cultural Arts Grant Committee has distributed over $76,000. The Town of Clayton allocated the funding for the grant during the budget process. "It is the goal of the Town that grant funding will generate more interest in arts programming and encourage citizens to step forward to lead new cultural arts activities," Stump said.
