Ed Lawrence, Public Information Officer

(502) 564-9746

Applications are due February 15, 2005 for a renewed Arts Council grant program that fosters the development of partnerships between Kentucky schools, communities, arts organizations and parents. The focus of these partnerships is to promote arts integration and arts programming in the schools.  In addition to financial support, the Kentucky Arts Council will provide technical assistance and oversight in developing programs that will benefit all of the partners during the three-year cycle of the grant and ensure the program’s continuation after the Arts Council’s funding is completed. The three-year grant can lead to $9,500 in Arts Council funding, with expected cash and in-kind matches.

            “We participated in the SCAPP Program when I was Assistant Principal at Bondurant Middle School in Frankfort. It was wonderful,” says Candace James, Principal of Northside Elementary School in Midway. “The thing that impressed me the most was the partnership aspect, with the local businesses and the Frankfort Arts Foundation as well as with artists. Kroger was great.  They gave up a store manager for two days to participate in the planning process and then sponsored our culminating event, which was a dance performance at the Governor’s Derby Breakfast.  The Frankfort Arts Foundation was so good in giving our kids exposure to the arts and the process of presenting the arts. We also had a cross-generational project that involved people from the senior citizen’s center.  This grant brought the community into our school, as well as the arts.  Everyone learned from this Program, not just the students. The artist training for teachers left a lasting impact on instruction. The year we had the SCAPP we ranked in the top 15 Middle Schools in the state for the Arts and Humanities testing.”  

            The Arts Council’s Arts in Education Program Director John S. Benjamin emphasizes, “The SCAPP program is unique in that the initial application is not adjudicated on the strength of the planned activities but on the strength of the proposed partnerships and each partner’s potential to contribute to its success.  Realizing how important parent involvement is for school success, we have added that component to the mix.”  For Guidelines and Instructions and Application Form, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog6/scap_gdl.html.  Schools interested in applying must submit an Intent to Apply form by January 15, 2005. Due to the late date of this announcement, Intent to Apply date waivers can be obtained by contacting John S. Benjamin at (502) 564-2676 or John.Benjamin@ky.gov.  All applications must be submitted by February 15, 2005.

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet.  Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation.  Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.