TALBOT COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL, INC.

P.O. Box 6, Easton, MD 21601-0006

NEWS RELEASE

Talbot Arts Council Invites Grant Requests for Arts Programs

The Talbot County Arts Council has called for applications for Community Arts Development grants to support arts projects and programs during July 2008 to June 2009. The cutoff date for grant applications is March 31, and organizations selected will be notified by April 30.

Applications are judged by the Arts Council board of directors on the basis of the artistic merit of the proposed arts activities, the perceived ability of the applying organization to carry them out, and how well the program will serve the residents and guests of Talbot County. Because the Arts Council often receives more grant requests than can be accommodated by available resources, it retains the right to accept or reject applications, suggest changes, and to support grant requests in full, in part, or not at all.

Arts Council funding must be matched on at least a one-for-one basis in cash by the requesting organization. This requirement may be waived in particular cases, such as arts programs intended specifically for economically poor or otherwise underserved audiences. Applicants must be organized as Maryland non-profit corporations with IRS tax-exempt status, or be government-related entities such as libraries or parks and recreation departments.

The Arts Council is offering a workshop on CAD Grant preparation to which the public is invited. The workshop will be held at 7 pm, Monday, February 25, at the Arts Council office at 142 North Harrison Street, next to TalbotTown in Easton. Anyone interested should advise the Arts Council in advance that they plan to attend.

Grants to public and private schools in Talbot County under the Arts-in-Education Program will be handled separately. That announcement will be made in August 2008 for programs during school year 2008-2009. Mini-grants up to $500 for new arts organizations or initiatives may be requested at any time, with grants considered in the month following their submission.

Application information is being sent to organizations that received grants during the past two years. Packets are also available for downloading from the Arts Council's website: www.talbotarts.org. For further information, contact the Talbot County Arts Council by phone 410-770-4415 or email gearly@talbotarts.org.

Summer Scholarship Program Announced by Talbot County Arts Council

The Talbot County Arts Council has announced its annual program of summer scholarships for Talbot County residents now enrolled in the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades. The program provides grants for art studies during Summer 2008 to students with outstanding artistic promise. There is no specific dollar limit to individual grant requests, but the amount asked of the Arts Council must be matched dollar-for-dollar by funds from other sources. For example, if a program costs $500, no more than $250 may be requested from the Arts Council. A total of $2,500 is available for summer arts scholarships this year, provided by grants from the Talbot County Council and the Towns of Easton and St. Michaels.

Programs that qualify in the visual, performing, or literary arts include summer art camps, music camps, and writing workshops, as well as other group or private programs or lessons in art, music, and writing. Contact the Arts Council with questions on program eligibility.

Nominations for arts scholarships may be submitted by Talbot County arts organizations, civic clubs, principals, teachers, or parents. Students may also apply directly for scholarships. Nominations require a supporting letter from an arts educator who is knowledgeable of the candidate's artistic history, ability, and potential.

Nominations must be submitted to the Arts Council by May 15, 2008, and selection decisions will be announced June. Scholarships are talent-based, not need-based, so no family financial information is required. Grant checks will be paid directly to the art program providers.

Among last year's scholarship winners were Julian Brezon of Trappe for woodwind instruments with Jeff Antoniuk in Annapolis; Sarah DiNapoli and Marissa Joiner of Easton to attend the Ooolation Outdoor Singing Camp in California; Andrew Dorbin of Easton for the Savannah College of Art and Design.s Summer Seminar in Film; Elizabeth Ewing of Easton to study vocal and instrumental music at the annual Youth Fellowship Music and Arts Camp at Frostburg State University; Jessica Ewing of Easton, for trombone lessons from Clint Woltering of the U.S. Naval Academy Band; Marisa Messick of Easton for the pre-college program at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore; Stephen O.Connor of Easton to study trumpet at the Peabody Preparatory Summer Session at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; Jacob Porch of Easton for jazz piano with Stefan Scaggiari of Centreville; and Sam J. Pugh of Easton to study advanced guitar techniques with Jordan Page of Easton.

Talbot Arts Council Offers Mini-Grants for Arts Programs

The Talbot County Arts Council offers mini-grants between $100 and $500 for arts-related purposes and programs. The amount requested must be matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by funds from the grant recipient. The Arts Council has allocated $10,000 for mini-grants for the fiscal year that ends on June 30, 2008, using funds provided by the Talbot County Council and the Towns of Easton and St. Michaels. The mini-grant program allows the Arts Council to quickly respond to new opportunities for arts programs that benefit county residents and guests.

Jane Bollman, vice president of the Arts Council and chair of its Mini-Grant Committee, says the concept of mini-grants was introduced in 2000 with five grants totaling $1,800 and grew to the 20 grants totaling $7,880 awarded last fiscal year. This year.s mini-grant budget of $10,000 is the largest ever, and it will be distributed on the basis of $5,000 for projects sponsored by nonprofit organizations and $5,000 for programs for elementary and secondary schools.

Applications may be submitted at any time by nonprofit organizations or schools in Talbot County. Further, according to Bollman, .we still have almost $6,000 available for mini-grants for this fiscal year, and we operate on a first-come, first-served basis until the money is gone. Applications received by the end of any month are considered in the following month.. Following is a list of some of the mini-grant approved during the past year:

Piano Teacher Janet Berg Is Talbot County's Outstanding Arts Educator

Janet S. Berg, a St. Michaels-based piano teacher and musician, has been named Outstanding Arts Educator for 2007-2008 by the Talbot County Arts Council. This is the first time in the thirteen-year history of the award that the person selected has been other than a teacher in the public or private schools. The award is made every second year on the basis of demonstrated excellence in the teaching of art, drama, literature, or music. Mrs. Berg was nominated by Lauren Mitchell of Easton, whose daughter Kathy and son Stewart take piano lessons from Mrs. Berg.

The plaque signifying the award was presented during the annual recital for Mrs. Berg's piano students at the Avalon Theater in Easton on Sunday afternoon, May 20. Making the presentation was Andrew H. Anderson, president of the Arts Council. Mrs. Mitchell assisted in the ceremonies by giving Mrs. Berg a framed picture by local artist Sally Kagan, a former member of the Arts Council board of directors.

According to the award citation, Mrs. Berg earned this recognition by Amore than 50 years of distinguished service as a music teacher and musician in St. Michaels. This ranges from teaching private piano lessons during her own high school and college years and thereafter, continuing as substitute music teacher at St. Michaels High School, then 20 years as organist and choir director for Christ Church in St. Michaels, and since 1987 working as a full-time piano teacher. She is a wonderful instructor who now often teaches piano to the children and grandchildren of her former students. Mrs. Berg has earned much well-deserved recognition for her selfless community service and tremendous contributions to the cultural life of Talbot County.

Mrs. Berg graduated from St. Michaels High School in 1952, and in 1956 earned a B.S. degree in piano and music education from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). She is a member of the National Association of Piano Teachers, Maryland State Music Teachers, Eastern Shore Music Teachers (president 1998-98), and the National Guild of Piano Teachers.

During 1971-82, she wrote and produced musical plays for the benefit of the St. Michaels PTA and St. Michaels Volunteer Fire Department. In 2005, 2006, and 2007 she wrote, composed, and directed original musical comedies for the benefit of the Michaels Volunteer Fire Department and the Twin Bridges Education Foundation, the latter with proceeds earmarked for programs in the schools of St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.

From the program's inception in 1994 through 2004, Outstanding Arts Educators were selected annually. Beginning for 2005-2006, the Arts Council switched to selections every second year to comport with the biennial selection schedule for the Governor's Art Award (Arts Educator Category)— for which Mrs. Berg will be Talbot County's candidate next year. The previous Outstanding Arts Educators have been:

The Outstanding Arts Educator program is one of several ways in which the Arts Council promotes arts education and arts excellence among young people in Talbot County. According to President Andy Anderson, the Arts Council gave almost $16,000 in grants to local public and private schools during this academic year, plus another $5,000 for arts-related summer and after-school programs for children. The source of this funding is grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Council, and the Towns of Easton, Oxford, and St. Michaels.

The Arts Council also offers summer arts scholarships for high school students, with $2,500 budgeted for programs this summer. Applications were due by May 15. The names of selected students will be announced in the near future. For further information on available programs, contact the Talbot County Arts Council by phone at 410-745-0222 or email gearly@talbotarts.org.