Chapman Cultural Center Awards '19-'20 Fourth Quarter Community Grants
Chapman Cultural Center is committed to broadening and strengthening Spartanburg's Cultural community. Because of this commitment, a major part of the work we do is centered around funding Spartanburg's arts and cultural community.
One of Chapman Cultural Center's major funding opportunities comes in the form of our quarterly Community Grants Program. The Community Grants Program awards up to $5,000 per application and is open to both individual artists and non-profits/government agencies. Learn more about the grant application process here.
We're proud to announce we've awarded the following artists Community Grant for our Q4 2019-2020 grants cycle! Learn more about their projects and programs below!
Proud Mary Theatre Company
The mission of the Proud Mary Theatre Company, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit and non-professional theatre, is to present LGBTQ+ voices and stories in Spartanburg and the entire Upstate region through theatrical plays: compelling dramas, rib-tickling comedies, musicals, and local original works and avant-garde pieces that celebrate diversity.
Their grant will go towards Proud Mary Theatre Lights Up 2020! - their first fundraising campaign for a major purchase and investment which includes professional theatrical lighting and box office equipment. This professional setup would be an invaluable asset to their productions.
"Proud Mary Theatre Company is thrilled to be chosen as a grant recipient this year. These funds will help add some much needed “light” and all colors of the rainbow to our theatrical productions for many seasons to come with our first investment in professional lighting equipment," said Sandy Staggs, Artistic Director.
Stay tuned to their Facebook page for updates!
Woodland Heights Elementary
The mission of Woodland Heights Elementary School, in active partnership with the community, is to provide each student with the highest quality education, which is conducive to social, physical, and intellectual growth, by providing meaningful educational experiences, a challenging curriculum, and a safe environment.
This community grant will help fund a Virtual Arts Camp for the week of June 15. A local artist in residence that is teaching puppetry around a literature background focus combining theater, visual art (3D) and ELA. The artist will be Staci Purvis, visual and arts integration teacher from Greenville.
Abraham Duenas
Abraham Duenas is a talented local artist and one of Mayfair Art Studios' resident creatives. He plans to use the community grant to offer virtual community outreach programs and services for those who may not otherwise be able to take art classes - especially for those living in the are surrounding Mayfair Art Studios. He is also working with Palmetto Luna, a local organization with the mission of creating awareness of Hispanic/Latino arts and culture in South Carolina, expanding the scope of art exhibitions and art education in South Carolina to include Hispanic/Latino artists in order to present more diverse insights and inspiration, helping to integrate the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino population into the mainstream arts community and promote the artists, and empowering the Hispanic/Latino community through collaborative public art programs. Check out their Facebook page for some virtual content!
He will also use the grant to outfit his space at Mayfair Art Studios, with plans to build a loft with storage on top and a workspace for tabletop creations and shooting videos. The space under the loft will be used to hang discreet lighting for photoshoots and video shoots that require a bigger space than upstairs. The wall space under the loft will also serve for displaying created art work from his metal studio. The loft will allow the main space to be used as an open workspace. Make sure you stop by Mayfair Art Studios when it is open again to see what he's created!
These projects will further his experience as an educator for the arts and help establish him as a leader in the community for those who can relate to him through the classes.
"There is a stigma in the Hispanic community that art is only a hobby and not a viable career path. The insight I have in reaching those people in my own life will greatly improve the chances todays youths face in breaking through those barriers," said Duenas.
Stay tuned to Abe's website and Facebook page for more information coming soon.
To continue to fund projects that support the Spartanburg arts community, we ask that you consider supporting local artists and organizations by donating to the Chapman Cultural Center.
If you would like to more information or have questions about community grants, the application process, or other grant opportunities, please contact Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Barksdale at jBarksdale@spartanarts.org.