ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 61 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2017 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.
Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to our economy and quality of life, the Union County Freeholders established the HEART Grant Program in 1998. This innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and it demonstrates a commitment to the artists and community organizations of Union County. Total funding for this year’s grants is $100,000.
“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals including composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers, as well as arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The response to the program has been exciting ever since its inception.”
Artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations that want information about next year’s HEART Grant Program can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or send E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org
Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2017 (Total $100,000)
- Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art and photography workshops
- Candace Waller, Fanwood, $1,000, providing free dance classes
- Lesl Harker, New Providence, $1,000, presenting Irish music workshop and concert
- Lowell Schantz, Westfield, $1,000, presenting two free jazz concerts in Union County libraries
- Renaee Smith, Roselle, $700, providing Writers Café workshops
- Valerie Graham, Roselle, $1,000, presenting free crafts workshops for children and seniors
- Borough of Fanwood, Fanwood, $2,200, presenting a Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series
- Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, presenting a free concert
- Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $2,000, presenting a dance festival
- City of Plainfield, $2,500, provide historic cemetery restoration
- Community Access Unlimited, Elizabeth, $1,000, providing a choral concert of students
- Continuo Arts Foundation, Summit, $1,500, presenting a holiday concert
- Cranford Housing Board, Cranford, $1,000, presenting the “Three Po’ Tenors” in concert for senior residents
- Dreamcatchers Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,700, presenting the NJ premiere of “What Stays”
- duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $2,300, presenting an art lecture series
- Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,500, presenting Hispanic Heritage Month concerts
- Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, $1,000, providing art education for homeless children
- Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting the 15th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour
- Hanson Park Conservancy, Cranford, $600, presenting “Olmstead by Design” program
- Hillcrest Academy North, Scotch Plains, $2,000, providing interactive music programs to students
- Historical Society of Elizabeth NJ, $1,000, presenting a history panel discussion
- Historical Society of Plainfield, Plainfield, $2,500, providing a Nathaniel Drake Family Genealogy Project,
- HomeTowne Television, Summit, $1,000, presenting a Union County history TV series
- Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing arts and culture classes to young children
- Jefferson Parks Ministries, Elizabeth, $1,700, presenting an art education program for children
- Jewish Community Center of Central NJ, Scotch Plains, $2,200, presenting a cultural appreciation series for Seniors
- Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts programs for immigrant women
- Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth, $1,000, presenting a Living History exhibition
- Language & Enrichment Center INC, Scotch Plains, $1,000, presenting performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs
- Life Drawing Studio Group, Fanwood, $2,000, providing visual arts workshops
- Miller-Corey House Museum, Westfield, $1,000, presenting a benefit concert
- Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,500, presenting music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center
- Musical Club of Westfield, Westfield, $900, presenting a benefit concert
- National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,400, providing two intergenerational programs: a big band swing dance and a jazz band
- New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Westfield, $1,700, presenting a live concert “Home for the Holidays”
- New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,300, presenting a community concert
- New Jersey Workshop for the Arts, Westfield, $1,000, provide chamber ensemble concerts
- Occupational Center of Union County, Inc., Roselle, $2,500, presenting art education classes for people with disabilities
- Old First Historic Trust, Elizabeth, $1,000, providing presentations and exhibit on historic cemeteries
- Overlook Hospital Foundation, Summit, $2,400, presenting “Healing Caregivers” healing arts program
- Peruvians for Progress, Elizabeth, $1,800, presenting a free traditional Peruvian Christmas celebration
- Plainfield Symphony Society, Plainfield, $1,600, presenting a free symphony concert
- Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union, $2,200, presenting the play “Black Tom Island”
- Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit, $2,000, presenting concert with jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimee
- Roselle 24/7, Roselle, $1,000, providing community-based arts festival
- Roselle Board of Education, Roselle, $1,500, presenting a high school performing arts program
- Roselle Park Historical Society, $1,000, presenting local history speaker series
- SAGE Eldercare, Inc., Summit, $2,200, presenting free musical performances to older adults
- Saint Theresa School, Kenilworth, $1,800, providing two student theatrical productions
- Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing, Westfield, $1,000, providing an interactive education program for Seniors
- Stony Hill Players, Summit, $2,000, presenting children’s theatrical productions
- Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,200, presenting a free Klezmer concert
- The ARC of Union County, Springfield, $2,300, presenting an interactive concert series
- The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting theatrical performances in Union
- Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., Union, $2,500, presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes
- Union Township Historical Society, Union, $1,000, presenting history programs for students
- United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting an historical play about the Emmett Till Story
- Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit $2,300, presenting a visual arts program for older adults,
- Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield, $2,000, presenting dance workshops
- Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, Berkeley Heights, $1,000, presenting free musical performances
- YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,000, presenting the “Y Sunday Brunch Art Series”
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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