Representatives from Bradley County Schools accepted $4,150 in grant money from the Arts in Education Committee of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
Cleveland City Schools were awarded $4,250 in grant money by the Arts in Education Committee for the 2015-16 schoolyear.
Private schools received $4,350 in grant money for arts education 2015-16 from funds raised by the Chair-ries Jubilee Committee.
The Arts in Education Committee awarded $12,750 in teacher grants for use in promoting the arts during the 2015-16 school year. The committee is a division of the Allied Arts Council of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
The money is proceeds from the April 2015 Chair-ries Jubilee fundraiser of the Allied Arts Council that annually raises money for arts programming and educational opportunities. The Arts in Education Committee distributes funds each year to teachers in the Cleveland City and Bradley County School Systems and private schools that are members of the Chamber of Commerce. The money also allows the Allied Arts Council to bring visiting artists into local schools.
Following an online application process, the committee distributes grants for arts experiences based on their artistic merit, benefits to audience/participants, planning and implementation, and commitment to arts advocacy.
“This year we were given $20,000 to fund teacher grants and visiting artists for our local schools to put art back into the classroom,” Wendy Benton, chairman of the Arts in Education Committee, noted. “We are excited to announce the funding of 27 teacher grants for the 2015-2016 school year.”
Ms. Benton explained that the committee received 40 grant applications this year, “the highest ever submitted to the committee.”
She continued, “After reviewing and evaluating each grant, which is done anonymously by committee members, 27 met the Arts in Education grant criteria totaling $12,750 in art grant funding. The county schools received $4,150; city schools received $4,250; and private schools received $4,350.”
The schools receiving grant funds include Lake Forrest Middle School, Bradley County music teachers, Oak Grove Elementary, Taylor Elementary, Goal Academy, Cleveland Middle School, Denning Center, Arnold Memorial Elementary, E.L. Ross, Cleveland City music specialists, Donald P. Yates Primary, Cleveland High School, The Trousdale School, Lee University and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School.
“We appreciate all the teachers who submitted grant applications this year,” Ms. Benton said. “Their work plus the enthusiasm of this hard-working committee enables us to invest in the arts education of students in Cleveland and Bradley County. Studies show that the arts impact test scores, communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving. The arts also boost self-confidence and make students less likely to drop out. Our investment in arts education really makes a difference for our students.”
The remainder of the $20,000 will help fund visiting artists for the school year.
Nancy Casson, who co-chairs the Chair-ries Jubilee Committee, said, “The work of our sponsors, artists and friends enables us to give the Arts in Education Committee a significant amount to support arts programs in our local schools. We are pleased to be able to provide funds for a variety of quality arts projects for students in grades K-12.”