Three Lincoln County School District North-area schools have been selected for 2019 grants to promote development of their music programs.
The $1,300 Lincoln County Cultural Coalition and Sponenburgh Grants grants will allow the respective schools to bring musicals, assistants and equipment necessary to support music in schools.
“We are so thrilled for our students and families to be able to bring this amazing cultural programming to our youth,” Lincoln County School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray said. “From musicians offering one-on-one coaching, to being able to have a multi-cultural offering for our Hispanic families, these grants are so well-received and vital. Thank you so much to LCCC and the Sponenburgh Trust for all of the continued support.”
LCSD Secondary Teaching and Learning Administrator Majalise Tolan, Taft High 7-12 Principal Nick Lupo, Oceanlake Elementary School Principal Sandy Mummey and and Taft Elementary School Principal Becca Bostwick attended a ceremony Friday, Nov. 23, to accept the grants at the Lincoln County Cultural Coalition and Sponenburgh Memorial Trust Awards Ceremony at the Toledo Public Library.
Oceanlake Elementary students will see the musical production of “Dragons Love Tacos” at the Lincoln City Cultural Center in March. They received $1,300 through The Sponenburgh Memorial Trust Grants for arts (music priority) education for youth, in collaboration with Lincoln County Foundation to support the ticket costs for 410 students.
At Taft Elementary School, sixth-grade students have the choice of taking either band or choir to meet the school’s music instruction requirement. They received a grant from the Sponenburgh Memorial Trust for furniture, supplies and materials for the sustainability of the sixth-grade band program in 2018-19.
“This year, our band program moved down to Taft Elementary from Taft 7-12, which resulted in incurred needs for our 155 participating students, such as chairs, music stands as well as items to continue the growth of the program, including reeds and sheet music,” Taft Elementary School Principal Becca Bostwick said.
With this new round of funding ($1,300), combined with additional support from the Lincoln City Parent Group, Taft Elementary received the Lincoln County Cultural Coalition grant for the Oregon Ballet Theater to do a two-day “Artist in Residency” and professional dance performance at the Lincoln City Cultural Center this spring. All 565 students will receive dance instruction.
In addition, “Studios to Schools,” a partnership with Siletz Bay Music Festival and Lincoln City Cultural Center, received a Cultural Coalition Grant for $1,300. The money will be used to support community music assistants for small group sessions on specific instruments for sixth-grade beginning band students at Taft Elementary and middle school music students at Taft High 7-12.
Taft 7-12 also received $1,300 dollars for the school’s drama program. The funds will support the purchase of sets, costumes and other supplies for the production of “SHREK the Musical.” Auditions are held in December with April performances for school groups and the public.
In partnership with Family Promise of Lincoln County, Lincoln City Cultural Center and Title VI Indian Education, LCSD North-area schools will be able to provide a free family evening showing of “¡Corre! ¡Corre!” The bilingual production will also be part of LCSD outreach support in partnership with the LCSD Hispanic Liaison.
The Lincoln County Cultural Coalition (LCCC), which receives funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust, is seeking applications for funding from arts, heritage and humanities organizations and individuals (through sponsorship by a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization).
Applicants seeking funding must address one of the following priorities:
1) Improve access to cultural experiences;
2) Raise the cultural awareness of youth (pre-school through 12);
3) Facilitate infrastructure improvements.
In addition to offering the annual “County Cultural Grants,” LCCC announced a granting opportunity to support arts education (priority music) for elementary and middle school students in Lincoln County. The funding is provided in partnership with the Lincoln County Foundation’s Mark Sponenburgh Memorial Trust.
