ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 46 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2012 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 $75,000.
“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The response to the program has been exciting ever since its inception.”
“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” Freeholder Mirabella added. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”
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 2012 (Total $75,000)
- Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art creating and history workshops;
- Candace Waller, Fanwood, $700, presenting dance programs and workshops;
- Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $1,000, intergenerational drawing workshops;
- Kenneth Sack, Summit, $600, “Write Your School Song” workshops at Winfield School;
- Raymond W. Blanks, Rahway, $997, providing photography classes for Rahway youth;
- Sandra Frank, Westfield, $1,000, presenting music education for senior rehab center;
- Valerie Graham, Roselle, $930, presenting free crafts workshops for children;
- Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway $2,000, Pre-K arts education in Rahway schools;
- Borough of Fanwood, $2,000, presenting Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
- Borough of New Providence Community Activities, $992, “Faces” children’s portrait project;
- Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, free concert “Legendary Performers and Recordings”;
- Brand New Day, Elizabeth, $2,000, traditional Caribbean music and dance workshops;
- Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $1,600, performance with UCAPA at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
- CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,000, arts workshops for child advocates;
- Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, Scotch Plains, $2,000, musical performances for hospice residents;
- Central Presbyterian Church, Summit, $1,500, providing classical music performances;
- City of Rahway, $1,000, hiring artists to make window art for empty storefronts;
- Clark Historical Society, Clark, $2,000, early American life demonstrators at Four Centuries in a Weekend;
- Continuo Arts Foundation, Westfield, $1,500, presenting “Seniors Sing” choral program;
- Cranford Senior Housing, Cranford, $1,000, “Three Tenors” concert for senior residents;
- Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,500, producing an original musical play;
- duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $1,500, performing arts program for grades K-12;
- Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, Friday Teen Arts Night series;
- Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,900, dance and music events during Hispanic Heritage Month;
- Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $1,600, 10th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bike tour;
- Hillside Public Library, Hillside, $1,818, free arts and cultural workshops for children;
- Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, clay arts projects for immigrant women;
- Language & Enrichment Center Inc, Scotch Plains, $1,000, performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs;
- Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Roselle, $2,500, creating “Connections” a literary publication of student work;
- Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, $1,000, producing a musical with Union County children;
- Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,300, music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center;
- National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,000, two inter-generational programs: a big band swing dance and a comedy show;
- NJ Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,000, free community concert;
- Occupational Center of U.C., Roselle, $2,000, art classes for people with disabilities;
- Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation, $1,850, a historical Kwanza celebration with speakers, music and dance;
- Restore Ministries, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,500, “Union County Arts Tour” for youth literary and arts study;
- Second Street Youth Center, Plainfield, $990, a 12-week engineering workshop for children;
- Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,000, free concert by Magevet, Yale’s Jewish a cappella group;
- The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting “A Few Steps in a Stranger’s Shoes” to promote understanding among students;
- Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., $1,700, Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
- United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting a play about Harriet Tubman;
- Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit $2,300, a visual arts program for older adults;
- Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Westfield, $1,600, concert “Home for the Holidays”;
- Women in Conversation, Plainfield, $2,500, reading groups for students and seniors;
- YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,000, “History of Jewish Cultural Impact” lecture series;
- Art in the Garden, through Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Elizabeth, $1,623, free performances at Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth.
– end –
For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .