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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Arts and Cultural Education Grants
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is pleased to announce grant awards made through its grantmaking partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). Six, $5,000 grants have been made to small and mid-sized Northeast Florida cultural organizations for programs that focus on art education, appreciation and awareness, as well as promote multicultural awareness and diversity.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is an outstanding corporate partner and it is an honor to work with these committed community stewards to make a difference in the lives of our young people,” said Robert Arleigh White, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. “The Cultural Council was pleased to assist in allocating these funds as the partnership demonstrates the cooperative spirit required to sustain and grow our area’s artistic and cultural resources.”
The 2010 BCBSF Arts and Cultural Education Grants were awarded to the following agencies:
BEACHES FINE ART SERIES – The grant will help underwrite artistic fees for the additional costs incurred to keep performing artists in the area to present educational outreach programs, including an extended residency. Outreach programs reach students at Title I schools. The proposed artists conducting the residency will provide programs with multicultural themes.
CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH – The grant will help fund instructor fees for a music therapy program designed for children with special needs. The program, which has documented success, takes place at a public elementary school that serves as an instructional hub for developmentally and physically challenged students in St. Johns County. Free music therapy workshops for classroom teachers are also offered.
PLAYERS BY THE SEA – The grant will continue to support an organizational relationship with Naval Station Mayport established through a 2009 award, which provides theater camp and staff instruction. The request also includes support for outreach to students with special needs who attend the Noble School in Jacksonville Beach by providing a drama program.
RIVERSIDE FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION – The grant will fund a special addition to “Project Listen,” a music outreach program serving students at Title I schools. “Big Drum, Small World” is a globally-themed performance with new commissioned works by jazz composers from 10 different countries presented by JazzReach, a New York City-based organization committed to fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of jazz.
STAGE AURORA – The grant will help fund the continuing development of the 100 Youth Voices Musical Theatre Program, which serves underserved students living on the Northside by incorporating drama and music into non-arts curricula such as math, science and reading, and focusing on character development. The program is entering a new partnership with the Jacksonville Public Library and Hands On Jacksonville to expand locations into branch libraries and after-school programs.
THEATREWORKS – The grant will help fund “Life Lessons from Page to Stage,” a literature-based program celebrating the differences in others and an appreciation of each person’s individual talents. Students at four elementary schools will receive free tickets to attend a performance of “The Hundred Dresses” at the Florida Theatre and will be provided with an in-school performance by Doug Berkey’s “Gems-World Wisdom Stories.”
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville serves as the local arts agency for Duval County. Its mission is to advance the appreciation and expression of art and culture by increasing community awareness of cultural activities and issues; providing arts education programs; and offering funding and technical assistance to cultural organizations and individual artists. For more information on the Cultural Council and its work, please visit www.culturalcouncil.org.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida’s health industry. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at www.bcbsfl.com.