HCCF awards unrestricted and IAC match grants
This month, the Harrison County Community Foundation (HCCF) awarded a total of $15,050 in grants to Hayswood Theatre and Repair Affair. This was made possible as a result of the generous support from community donors and Horseshoe Southern Indiana.
Hayswood Theatre was awarded $13,550 for a new roof, and Repair Affair received $1,500 for construction materials for this year’s home repair project held by the organization. The funding for both grants is coming from HCCF Builder’s Funds, which are endowment funds not restricted to a particular use but rather support community needs and projects identified by the HCCF Board of Directors.
Connie Bell, Treasurer of Hayswood Theatre, said the theatre’s roof sprung a leak in January. The theatre solicited bids for a new roof and accepted the bid from Guaranteed Total Construction. Bell said HCCF’s grant came at the perfect time because Hayswood Theatre has also been working on its facade.
“We’re definitely over the moon excited,” Connie Bell, Treasurer of Hayswood Theatre, said. “For us to have such a need and for the community foundation to address that need so quickly is phenomenal. We are always thankful for the love we get from the community.”
HCCF also granted matching funds to seven organizations that received grants from the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). Each matching grant was $5,000, for a total of $35,000 awarded in IAC matching grants this year.
Lanesville Community Schools was awarded a matching grant for a program called Culture in the Arts. The program will bring fine art professionals that explore music, theater, visual arts and storytelling into the K-12 classrooms this school year.
Martha Beckort, Media Specialist at Lanesville Community Schools, said the Culture in the Arts program will help students develop 21st century skills, including the four C’s: critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration.
“Lanesville believes the arts are elemental in our students’ educational journey,” Beckort said. “They develop that creativity in the four C’s and allow the students to become their own unique person.”
The Indiana University Southeast Ogle Center received a matching grant to support family and children’s programming at the center. The programming, provided through the Ogle Center’s Children and Family Series, brings high-quality educational and cultural programming to K-12 students in Southern Indiana at no cost to families or schools.
Main Street Corydon (MSC) was awarded a matching grant to support the Art at the Old Capitol festival in Corydon, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is a free family-friendly event that showcases artistry in Harrison County.
“With the support of the Indiana Arts Commission grant and the matching funds from the Harrison County Community Foundation we are able to provide a free, family friendly event that showcases local and regional artists and their varied methods of artistic expression,” Angel Frizzell, Executive Director of MSC, said. “The event will also provide an opportunity for a youth exhibit for grades six through 12 and interactive demonstrations for all ages to explore their own talent of art.”
Hayswood Theatre received a matching grant to support four performances in its 2019-2020 season. This grant will help the theatre continue to provide opportunities for people to participate in or enjoy live theatre performances.
Harrison County Arts (HCA) was awarded a matching grant to bring art to the Fred Cammack Corydon Farmers Market on Friday nights this fall and spring 2020, as weather permits. Members of HCA will staff a booth and present a variety of free art programs for the community.
“Please come to meet our artists and enjoy a fun activity while you browse the wonderful Farmers Market,” Kathy Crimans, HCA board member, said. “We want art to be accessible to all ages in our community!”
The Historical Society of Harrison County received a matching grant to create a booklet called “Small Towns Harrison County, Indiana.” The booklet will include stories of the small towns that remain in Harrison County, as well as those that have fallen by the wayside.
North Harrison Band Boosters was awarded a matching grant to support its Winter Performance Ensemble, which includes winter drumline and winter guard.
“The grant is essential to providing students in the North Harrison Band program the same performance opportunities that other students across the state receive,” Dan Peterson, North Harrison Band Director, said. “Without the grant, our program would not be able to sustain our Winter Performance Ensembles, which keep kids active in the arts year round.”
Each year, HCCF provides the required matching funds to arts organizations serving Harrison County and Harrison County schools that receive an IAC Arts Project Support (APS) grant award. The funding ensures Harrison County citizens have access to quality arts and cultural activities.
For more information about HCCF grants and policies, visit hccfindiana.org, or contact Anna Curts, Grants Manager, at 812-738-6668 or annac@hccfindiana.org.
HCCF has awarded more than $96 million in grants, scholarships and other support to Harrison County nonprofits and residents to date. If you wish to create or give to a Builder’s Fund and assist with grantmaking in Harrison County, visit hccfindiana.org, or contact Kim Harmon, Director of Development, at 812-738-6668 or kimh@hccfindiana.org.