United Arts awards over $20,000 to area artists
 
 
United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County recently awarded $21,030 to 15 artists through the 2005-2006 Regional Artist Project Grant Program. This program offers competitive grants to individual artists and small groups to help them further their professional and artistic development. Artists must reside in the five-county region of Johnston, Franklin, Vance, Warren and Wake Counties.
 
Projects funded this year include:
 
  • Lisa Bernardi Wolf, Franklin County
    Tuition to attend clay classes at the Penland School of Crafts
  • James (Rick) Davis, Wake County
    Travel expenses to Ireland to research traditional dulcimer music
  • Craig Kassan, Franklin County
    Purchase of Manzanita root for creation of new sculptural wood pieces
Grant applications from 24 artists were first reviewed by experts in their fields and then reviewed by a panel for final funding recommendations. Grant requests ranged from $845 to the maximum of $1,500 and totaled over $34,000.
 
The Regional Artist Project Grant Program receives major funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, and United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County. The Franklin, Vance, Johnston, and Warren County Arts Councils provide additional support.