Arts Place requests more funding

Arts in the Parks may need more funding.
The annual arts education program, put on by Arts Place, may be losing a major donor for 2016, and as a result is requesting an increase of $2,500 in county funds to go towards operations next year.
Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers, along with board members Connie Roberts, Ruth Ann Widman and Susann Gilbert, appealed to Jay County Commissioners on Monday for an increase in funding for Arts in the Parks.
Rogers said a major private donor may be withdrawing up to $10,000 in donations from the program next year. The possible loss represents a 25 percent cut to the Arts in the Parks budget.
Last year the county contributed $11,500 to the program, but in order to combat the possible loss Arts Place is requesting $14,000 in county funds be allotted to Arts in the Parks from the commissioner’s budget.

Rogers said even though the donor may be withdrawing support, they are doing Arts Place a service by letting them know far enough ahead of time to plan for 2016’s program.
“The assumption is that we’re going to lose this private support from this funder,” said Rogers. “We’re going to be going to our other current donors asking if they can help by increasing their support and soliciting money from new prospects.”
Rogers said he will know definitively by September if the private donor will be withdrawing support, and if Arts Place does not end up losing the funding the commissioners and auditor will be made aware of the change.
Funding for this year’s program remains intact, said Rogers, and even though Arts in the Parks takes place in five counties, only Jay County’s program could be affected by the funding decrease.
Jay County Commissioners tabled the matter so a budget review could be performed prior to making a recommendation to Jay County Council.
Arts in the Parks is an annual arts program that introduces young people to a variety of visual and performing arts activities, ranging from comic book production to breakdancing. Classes will be held from June 15 to July 30 in Berne, Dunkirk, Geneva, Harford City, Montpelier, Pennville and Portland in Indiana as well as Fort Recovery, Celina, Coldwater, St. Henry, Minster and St. Marys in Ohio.
A class schedule and registration information can be found at http://www.artsland.org.
In other business, commissioners Faron Parr, Doug Inman and Jim Zimmerman:
•Approved placing a recycling trailer at the Jay County EMS Dunkirk base.
•Heard from Paula Confer, who informed the commissioners that Jay County Fair Board member Bob Lyons is putting together a display of 100-year-old local farms to be shown during Jay County Fair. Those interested should call (260) 726-9616.
•Approved a request by Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley for Jay County to endorse Muncie’s application for a grant from Indiana Economic Development Corporation Regional Cities Initiative. The commissioners asked that Jay County be represented during Muncie’s consideration for the grant because the possibility exists that the county could receive leftover funding from the project.
•Were given a 68-page U.S. Department of Agriculture report for review by Jay County emergency management director Ralph Frazee. The report included standard operating procedures, foreign animal disease preparedness and response plans for an avian flu outbreak, should one occur.
•Approved the purchase of new radio equipment for Jay County Highway Department at a cost of $15,704.46. It will be paid for by the Jay County Highway Department garage budget.