Local groups earn grants

Three local organizations have been approved for funding through state grant programs.

Jay County Historical Society announced this week that it has received a $33,900 Heritage Support Grant through Indiana Historical Society for electrical upgrades at Jay County Historical Museum.

Also, the Indiana Arts Commission announced Tuesday that it has awarded a $12,446 grant to Arts Place for projects at its facilities in Jay and Blackford counties and a $5,000 grant to National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture for cultural arts classes. Arts Place also received a $1,000 merit award.

Jay County Historical Society will use the $33,900 it received through Indiana Historical Society (made possibly by Lilly Endowment Inc.) for electrical upgrades which include replacing wiring in the older section of the facility. (The original structure was built in the 1930s, with the most recent addition completed in 2016.) The grant requires a 15% match — $5,085 — from the historical society.

“It’s funding that we would have a hard time getting from any place else,” said Kay Locker, co-vice president of the historical society. “We’re very happy to have it. It’s a big boon to the museum, this along with the other two grants that we have gotten from them have given us a lot of funding for projects that we could not have done otherwise.”

Indiana Michigan Power will upgrade service with a new transformer and wiring to the building.

Franklin’s Electrical Service of Portland will handle the interior work, with old breaker boxes being replaced, new outlets installed and LED lighting. The work will be completed over the next several months.

Arts Place was selected for the Indiana Arts Commission funding from nearly 600 applicants. Projects were selected based on “major positive impacts on the cultural, economic and educational climate of Indiana.”

The merit awards went to 52 organizations in recognition of their “innovation and dedication to providing public benefit in the last year.”

“Arts Place is honored to receive these Indiana Arts Commission awards in support of our mission to nurture the creative spirit in the communities we serve,” said Carolyn Carducci, director of development for Arts Place. She noted that the funding helps support programs including Arts in the Parks, MusicWorks, ArtWorks and the annual performances series. “Without the assistance of the National Endowment of the Arts and the Indiana Arts Commission, our rural communities would have less access to the arts.”

National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture will use the grant funding for its Native American cultural art classes. They are held regularly at Jay County Fairgrounds for ages 6 and older.

“It’s really very exciting,” said Linda Andrews, the organization’s co-chair. “We just have a blast really. It’s a lot of fun. We’d really love anyone who is interested to come and join us.”

Other Indiana Arts Commission grants included: $3,650 to North Adams Arts Council, $15,305 to Cornerstone Center for the Arts, $8,581 to Minnetrista, $6,774 to Muncie Arts and Culture Council, $9,5887 to Muncie Civic Theatre Association, $9,587 to Muncie Civic and College Symphony Association, $5,775 to Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana, $5,000 to East Central Neighborhood Association, $5,775 to Masterworks Chorale, $5,775 to Arts Association of Randolph County and $7,623 to Creative Arts Council of Wells County.

Funding for the Indiana Arts Commission and its programs is provided by the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Heritage Support Grant is the third Jay County Historical Society has received. It was awarded about $15,000 for the 2016 expansion and improvement of exhibits and storage area, and it received $14,441 last year for updating technology and audio-visual equipment.