NEW ART DOLLARS TARGET MADISON SCHOOLS

American Girl and an anonymous donor contribute $20,000 to grants program

The Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools and the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission have secured $20,000 in new grant funds designated exclusively for arts programs in Madison schools. The two organizations have forged a unique grantmaking partnership to distribute the funds supporting guest artist residencies and other special K-12 arts programs in the schools planned for the 2006-07 year

A $10,000 contribution to the commission from American Girl’s Fund for Children will be competitively allocated to Madison schools seeking support for visual art, music, theater, dance, and creative writing programs. An equal amount from an anonymous donor to the school’s foundation will automatically provide matching funds to every school receiving a commission award. The combined grant dollars have the potential to fully fund visual, performing and literary arts projects occurring outside the schools’ general operating budgets.

“This wonderful financial boost by American Girl’s Fund for Children, matched by an anonymous angel, comes at a critical time for local schools. After several years of severe budget reductions in arts education, our donors are offering an infusion of new resources to support some exceptional arts experiences for Madison students next year,” commented Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission director Lynne Watrous Eich in announcing the new grants. “One of our goals is to simplify the application and award process for everyone involved.”
Jodi Bender Sweeney, President of the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools concurred. “We’re simply thrilled. These private funds will offer a helping hand to teachers and parents interested in building collaborations among our local schools, artists and arts organizations. They’re earmarked specifically for projects which promote students’ creative potential and learning opportunities, while building arts audiences for the future.”

Application deadlines are February 1, June 1 and September 1, 2006. Only Madison schools are eligible to apply for these funds. For more information on arts-in-schools grants, call Lynne Eich, Cultural Affairs Office, 266-5915, Jodi Bender Sweeney, Foundation for Madison Public Schools, 232-7820, or Madison school district Fine Arts Coordinator Julie Palkowski, 663-5227. Grants for Dane County schools outside Madison are also available through the commission with a combination of other public and private funding.

For immediate release: December 1, 2005
Contact: Jodi Bender Sweeney, President, Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools, 232-7820;
Lynne Eich, Director, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, 266-5915

Posted by at December 6, 2005 11:10 AM
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