Representatives from Cleveland City and Bradley County School Systems as shown accepted nearly $18,000 in grant money from the Arts in Education Committee of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. Funds were raised from the April 2017 Chair-ries Jubilee annual event, spear-head by the Allied Arts Council.
The Arts in Education Committee awarded $17,963 in teacher grants for use in promoting the arts during the 2017-18 school year. “The money is proceeds from this year’s Chair-ries Jubilee fundraiser, which raises money for arts programming and education opportunities,” said Christine Williams, chairman of the Arts in Education Committee.
The Arts in Education Committee, a division of the Allied Arts Council of Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, 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. Nancy Casson, Chair-ries Jubilee Committee chair, said, “We are pleased to be able to provide funds for a variety of quality arts projects for students in grades K-12. 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 schools.”
Following an open application process, the committee distributes grants for arts experiences based on their artistic merit, benefits to audience participants, planning and implementation, and commitment to advocacy. “After evaluating each grant, which is done anonymously by committee members, 34 teachers met Arts in Education grant criteria totaling nearly $18,000 in art grant funding,” said Ms. Williams.
Schools receiving grant funds include: Bradley County Schools, Charleston Elementary, Cleveland City Schools, Cleveland High School, Cleveland Middle School, Drama Central- Bradley Central High School Drama Club, E. L Ross, Goal Academy, Lake Forest Middle School, Lee University Theatre, Mayfield Elementary School, Michigan Avenue School, Oak Grove Elementary, Ocoee Middle Drama Department, Ocoee Middle School, Prospect Elementary, Stuart Elementary, Tennessee Christian Prep School, Trousdale School, The Leadership Academy at Valley View, and Valley View Elementary School.
“We appreciate all the teachers who submitted grant applications this year,” said Ms. Williams. “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.”