Columbus Arts Council Gets $10,000 Grant

COLUMBUS, Miss. — The Columbus Arts Council (CAC) of Columbus, MS has been awarded a $10,000 Engagement grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). This grant is a noncompetitive grant which is awarded to organizations who are currently eligible to receive federal funding and who have shown grant management ability through management of previous NEA funding.

The $10,000 will be used to enhance the CAC programs for its “A Different Voice” program schedule for 2014-2015. “The money from the NEA will allow the CAC the opportunity to bring in workshops, performers and classes that a regular funding year budget cannot accommodate,” states Beverly Norris, program manager.

The CAC will be holding the First Columbus Memorial Sacred Harp Singing, presenting singer songwriters like the New Agrarians and hosting workshops including “The Power of Art,” “Understanding Autism: Experience the Right Side of Your Brain,” and “The Art of Memoir Writing,” just to name a few of the exciting programs this grant will bring to Columbus.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. For more information, visit arts.gov.

The Columbus Arts Council, established in 1965, presents, promotes, supports and inspires artists and creative endeavors in Lowndes County and the City of Columbus. The CAC advocates a better understanding of and appreciation for the arts and its role in our diverse community. For more information, visit www.columbus-arts.org.