Seventeen different schools, arts and nonprofit organizations from nine counties in southeast Tennessee have been awarded Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant funds totaling close to $20,000.

The ABC program is funded by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered by Southeast Tennessee Development District in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC). Grantees receive anywhere from $500 to $3,000 and must provide a dollar-for-dollar match.

“This money helps organizations fund some really valuable projects, and these grantees are grateful to have it in this economic climate,” said Cindy Milligan, program director for Southeast Tennessee Development District. “In McMinn County, for example, the Etowah Arts Commission will present the ‘Young Authors Conference.’ This program focuses on teaching students K-8 to appreciate and understand reading and creative writing. Older students are encouraged to write their own book and meet with adult authors at the conference.”

Other grants and projects include:

The Athens Area Council for the Arts was awarded funds for ‘The Art of Recycling’, a juried art competition open to residents of McMinn and four other counties. An exhibit of the entries will take place November and December, with an opportunity for school and community group tours.

Mayfield Elementary will present ‘From the Page to the Stage: Playwriting and Puppetry’. Three community events will originate at Mayfield Elementary with puppeteer and teaching artist Kathleen Lynam. A student’s original story will be used in a play for the community; Ms. Lynam will later perform at Life Care Center; and there will be a Family Night at the school.

In Bradley County, the Cleveland Bradley Chamber Foundation was awarded funds for ‘You, Me and the Piano: a Winning Combination’. Musical prodigy Rudolf Budginas will perform twice on Tuesday February 16, 2010 at Conn Center for 600 students in Title 1 and homeschools, fine arts majors at Lee University and Cleveland State and seniors who do not drive. There will be a later performance for season ticket holders.

The Tennessee Valley Theater, the primary provider of performing arts events in Rhea County, will present the Gift of the Magi on December 4-12. This show is a musical adaptation of two classic O. Henry stories.

In Bledsoe County, Artist Hands of Sequatchie Territory was awarded funds to secure entertainers for the Log Cabin Days festival held in May. The festival brings in visitors in from all over Tennessee and showcases local heritage, arts and crafts demonstrations.

McMinn County Living Heritage Museum will host ‘Artistic Expression: Art as Therapy’, an exhibit of artwork by rising artist Derrick Freeman who was diagnosed with autism when he was two. He will lead workshops at the museum open to individuals with autism or related disorders.

The Community Action Group of Englewood is using their award to commission a third piece of public art to be displayed with the other two pieces of art on the open air public stage in downtown Englewood. This piece, designed by Ralph DeWitt, will depict the historical Eureka Textile Mill.

The students at Whitwell Middle School in Marion will work with local artists to create stained glass panels depicting scenes from Whitwell history for a project titled ‘Looking at History through Glass Eyes’. The panels will be mounted in the school foyer.

The Grundy Area Arts Council will offer a Writers Workshop, which will allow aspiring writers and opportunity to learn more of their craft from professional authors from the area.

The Meigs County Historical Society has commissioned Bill McDonald to paint a mural to be mounted in the Meigs County Historical Museum that will depict downtown Decatur in the 1930s-1940s, specifically the main street and movie theater. Citizens will be involved in the project.

The Friends of Sequatchie County Library will host ‘Art in the Library’ in May 2010. This celebratory event honoring the library’s 50th birthday will include works from 6 regional artists.

In Polk County, the City of Ducktown will create a heritage-themed mural to be painted on a large concrete wall entering the City of Ducktown. It will depict a timeline progression of the city’s heritage, including Cherokee, mining, Red Hills, wildlife, and whitewater sports.

The McMinn County Senior Citizens will host ‘May I Have this Dance?’, an instruction in swing and other social dance. This is a follow up to their current series “Learn the Waltz” with instructor Wendy Wheeler.

In Bledsoe County, Tennessee Volunteer Gourd Society will use their grant funds to present the ‘3rd Annual Home Grown and Hand Made gourd show’. Vendors will display and sell a variety of gourds and gourd crafts. There will be demonstrations, gourd crafting classes and videos for sale. Musicians from the area will perform and regional artists, growers and crafters will be on hand, too.

Meigs County will present ‘Metal Art at Cherokee Removal Memorial Park’. Bubba Williams of Anvil Works, Inc., will use traditional blacksmith techniques to create metal art for the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park in the southern part of Meigs County.

The Town of Decatur has enlisted photographer Jim Caldwell to photograph historic and scenic sites in Decatur and Meigs County. They will then be displayed in government building, schools, and local businesses.