ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 46 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2014 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 Christopher Hudak. “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 Hudak 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 2014 (Total $75,000)
- Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art and photography workshops;
- Candace Waller, Fanwood, $950, providing free dance classes;
- Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting a community arts festival;
- Kenneth Sack, Summit, $800, providing an arts-in-education program for Summit;
- Paula Borenstein, Elizabeth, $800, providing art workshops;
- Raymond W. Blanks, Rahway, $700, providing photography classes for Rahway youth;
- Valerie Graham, Roselle, $945, presenting free crafts workshops for children and seniors;
- Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, $2,000, presenting arts education for children and teens;
- Borough of Fanwood, $2,000, presenting a Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
- Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, presenting a free concert;
- Brand New Day, Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting traditional Caribbean music and dance workshops;
- Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $1,600, presenting a performance with UCAPA at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
- CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts workshops for child advocates;
- Central Presbyterian Church, Summit, $1,585, providing classical music performances;
- Cranford Housing Board, Cranford, $1,000, presenting “Three Po’ Tenors” concert for senior housing residents;
- duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $500, presenting a performing arts program for children grades K-12;
- Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,600, producing outreach theater program for Seniors;
- Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,500, presenting a Hispanic Heritage Month concert;
- Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting 12th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour;
- Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing arts and culture classes to young children;
- Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting poetry and music recording workshops for immigrant women;
- Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth, $1,900, preparations for interpretive tour manual;
- Language & Enrichment Center, Scotch Plains, $1,000, presenting performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs;
- Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, $1,500, providing musical programs for children;
- Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,500, presenting music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center;
- Musical Club of Westfield, Scotch Plains, $1,100, presenting an original composition in concert;
- National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,100, providing two intergenerational programs: a big band swing dance and a jazz trio;
- New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Westfield, $1,800, presenting live concert “Home for the Holidays”;
- New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,100, presenting a community concert;
- Occupational Center of U.C., Roselle, $2,200, presenting art education classes for people with disabilities;
- Overlook Hospital Foundation, Summit, $2,000, presenting therapeutic singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease;
- Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation, $1,800, presenting a historical Kwanza celebration with speakers, music and dance;
- Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union, $2,100, presenting a play, “At Liberty Hall”;
- Rahway Community Action Organization, Rahway, $1,000, presenting African American history program;
- SAGE Eldercare, Inc., Summit, $2,000, presenting free musical performances to older adults;
- Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,200, presenting a free history of Jewish humor program;
- The Links Foundation, Plainfield, $1,500, presenting a free community concert;
- The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting four plays in Union;
- Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway,$950, presenting two music education workshops for children;
- Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., Union, $2,000, presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
- Union Township Historical Society, Union, $1,320, presenting a reenactment of the Battle of Connecticut Farms;
- United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting a play about Nelson Mandela and Apartheid;
- Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit, $2,300, presenting a visual arts program for older adults;
- Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield, $1,000, presenting dance workshops;
- Women in Conversation, Plainfield, $2,500, presenting reading groups for students and seniors;
- YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,150, presenting a Jewish Fair and Arts Festival.