Richmond County Schools awarded $35K grant from N.C. Arts Council

RALEIGH — Richmond County Schools was recently awarded one of 340 grants from the North Carolina Arts Council.

According to the Arts Council, RCS will receive $35,748 in the Grassroots Art Program grant category.

In all, nearly $11 million was awarded to a combination of school districts, local arts councils and other organizations to “fund the ongoing artistic and administrative functions of arts organizations,” according to a press release. 

The release states that grants are reviewed and awarded on a three-year cycle by discipline, with current grants going toward the categories of literature, visual arts, film and dance.

“Our state’s investment in arts and culture is essential to the strength of our communities and our statewide economy,” Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said in the press release.

“Through these grants and the work of the N.C. Arts Council, lives are enriched and communities across all 100 counties grow stronger,” Cashwell added, thanking the General Assembly and Gov. Josh Stein for the continued investment. 

According to the release, this year’s funding priorities are:

• Emphasizing community outreach and audience engagement
• Improving organizational capacity and capabilities
• Connecting K–12 students with artists across disciplines and expanding statewide access to support, resources, and opportunities to engage dedicated teaching artists
• Through our Heritage Awards program, recognizing North Carolinians who have significantly influenced the cultural life of their communities
• Fostering public-private partnerships that leverage state and federal funding with local support
• Supporting local arts partners in all 100 counties to ensure that all North Carolinians can experience the arts in their own communities

“As we continue our Sustaining Support for Arts Organizations grants, we’re seeing how added stability in operating expenses empowers organizations to grow and innovate,” Arts Council Executive Director Jeff Bell said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see the positive impact that these organizations are having in their communities and across North Carolina.”