September 1: Grant Application Deadline

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance offers a grant opportunity for projects, concerts, performances, workshops and more taking place in January, February or March. The application deadline is September 1.

To receive a copy of the application, email Uschi Jeffcoat at peedeearts@gmail.com, or click here for the online version.

Quarterly Grants Program: Brief Overview & Guidelines

The Quarterly Grants Program for Organizations & Individual Artists is designed to provide support for a wide variety of quality arts projects, as well as for professional development opportunities for artists and arts administrators. 

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must be based in Florence County with a Florence County mailing address and be registered charitable organizations with federal non-profit status.  Individual artists must be practicing artists and have a Florence County mailing address.  Individual artists must be over the age of 18 at the time of application.  Individual artists cannot apply for funding for projects that are related to academic credit. 

Applications from organizations or artists with overdue or incomplete grant reports from previously awarded Quarterly Grants will not be considered for funding.

No entity or individual can receive more than two (2) grants per year (Quarters 1 through 4).  No entity or individual can apply for more than one (1) grant per quarterly deadline.

Projects must begin in the quarter of application, but can extend past the end of the quarter.  Final reports are due within 30 days of the end date of the project or June 30^th, whichever date comes first.

Funding Information

All applicants are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in funding.  All applicants are required to make a 2:1 match.  No more than 50% of that match can be in-kind. 

Payment of awarded grants is done on a reimbursement basis.  Payments are issued after the acceptance of a final report. 

Notification

Applicants will be notified of their application’s status within one week of the Grants Dispersal Committee’s meeting. 

Any applicant that is not satisfied with their grant award is entitled to file an appeal.  Appeals must be made within one week of the funding notification.  The appeal will be heard by the Board of Directors at their next scheduled meeting.  The decision of the Board of Directors is final. 

Questions about FRAA’s Quarterly Grants Program should be directed to Uschi Jeffcoat at peedeearts@gmail.com or 843.407.3092

Betty Ann Darby Scholarships Recipients Announced

FLORENCE REGIONAL ARTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES BETTY ANN DARBY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Florence, SC  -  Since 1997, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance has awarded 27 Florence County students with the prestigious Betty Ann Darby Scholarship. This week, two more students have been added to the list of deserving recipients.   

Miss Haley Ard of Pamplico was recognized for her outstanding work in the visual arts. She will be attending Anderson University, majoring in Fine Arts. Miss Ard demonstrates a strong passion for the arts, is a dedicated student and shows a strong desire to continue her pursuit of knowledge in her craft. Haley’s work shows skill in technical practices, color balance as well as compositional strength. She is a recent graduate of Hannah-Pamplico High School.

The second scholarship has been awarded to  Mr. Philip Rast. Since being cast in Florence Little Theatre’s production of Oliver!, at the age of seven, Philip has been enthralled by the world of musical theatre. He gives credit to his church, Florence Baptist Temple, for instilling an appreciation of the arts in him. His most recent theatre production, from an extensive list of performances,  was FLT’s Les Miserables. Mr. Rast, a graduate of South Florence High School, will be pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at Coastal Carolina University.

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Program is named in honor of one of South Carolina's most distinguished music educators.  A member of the South Carolina Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, Ms. Darby served Florence Public School District One for thirty-nine years as a much beloved and highly revered music administrator and music teacher.  Since her retirement in 1987, Ms. Darby has embraced a broad array of volunteer activities in the arts community. 

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Program awards two $1,000 scholarships each year to graduating seniors who will be pursuing advanced academic or professional degrees in an arts discipline or in arts education.  To be considered, seniors must reside in Florence County or be graduating from a Florence County public or private high school.  

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarships are merit scholarships awarded predominantly on the basis of demonstrated talent, passion for the arts and intention to pursue a career in an arts discipline or in arts education.  They are made possible by the generous support of Honda to the FlorenceRegional Arts Alliance.

15 Florence County Students honored by FRAA

Each year since 1997, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) has awarded the Excellence in Arts Education Awards to graduating seniors from all over Florence County.  This tradition continued recently with awards being handed out at Lake City High School, West Florence High School, Timmonsville High School, South Florence High School and Hannah-Pamplico High School. 

In all, 15 students received honors in visual art, chorus, dance, drama and band. The honorees were:

Visual Art

Haley Ard, Hannah-Pamplico

Amelida Lazo, Lake City

Makayla Plowden, Timmonsville

Destiny Vause, West Florence

Chorus

Zachary Greenwood, Hannah-Pamplico

Patrick Hunt, Lake City

Taylor Gray, South Florence

Tamaric Jones, Timmonsville

Dance

TaShay Means, Timmonsville

Band

Melonie Bryant, Lake City

Nicholas Bruce, South Florence

Robert Dickey, Jr., Timmonsville

Drama

Andrew Poston, Hannah-Pamplico

Bryce Elmore, South Florence

Reginald Brown, Timmonsville 

Graduating seniors from each of the seven public high school in Florence County are eligible for the Excellence in Arts Education Awards.  Nominations are made by arts teachers and are based on academic achievement and performance, as well as involvement in school and community-based arts activities.  

The Honda of South Carolina Excellence In Arts Education Awards are part of a broader FRAA Student Recognition Program that includes the Betty Ann Darby Scholarships, two merit awards presented annually to Florence County graduating seniors who will be pursuing advanced academic or professional degrees with majors in an arts discipline or in arts education. 

For more information about the Excellence in Arts Education Awards or any other Florence Regional Arts Alliance initiatives, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

May 16th: Application Deadline for the Betty Ann Darby Scholarship

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Program is named in honor of one of South Carolina's most distinguished music educators. A member of the South Carolina Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, Ms. Darby served Florence Public School District One for thirty-nine years as a much beloved and highly revered music administrator and music teacher. Since her retirement in 1987, Ms. Darby has embraced a broad array of volunteer activities in the arts community.

Since 1997, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance has awarded 27 Florence County students with the prestigious Betty Ann Darby Scholarship.

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Program awards two $1,000 scholarships each year to graduating seniors who will be pursuing advanced academic or professional degrees in an arts discipline or in arts education. To be considered, seniors must reside in Florence County or be graduating from a Florence County public or private high school.

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarships are merit scholarships awarded predominantly on the basis of demonstrated talent, passion for the arts and intention to pursue a career in an arts discipline or in arts education. All application materials must be received by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance via the applicant’s high school guidance counselor or other administrative official on or before May 16, 2014.

A completed Darby Scholarship Program Application consists of the application, essay, transcript, three recommendation letters and support materials.

To receive an application, email Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.

June 3rd is FRAA's Next Application Deadline for Quarterly Grants

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting quarterly grant applications from artists, organizations, schools, and teachers for arts projects scheduled to begin October, November and December 2014. Applications are due on or before 5pm on June 3rd. Applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before June 3rd.

Applications can be obtained by contacting the Florence Regional Arts Alliance at peedeearts@gmail.com. Applicants may request up to $2,500. Because application materials change from time to time, it is recommended that previous applicants request copies of the current materials.

All individuals applying for funding must reside in Florence County. All organizations must be based in Florence County.

Examples of funded project include: performances and readings, workshops, services to artists and arts-presenting organizations, exhibitions, artistic and managerial development and public festivals and events.

FRAA will not fund the following: deficits for completed or ongoing projects, tuition for academic study, contingency funds, the purchase of long-term rental equipment, capital improvements, interest on loans, fines, or litigation.

FRAA's Grants Program is partially funded by South Carolina Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as from a generous contribution by the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina. Additional funding is provided by Honda of South Carolina. Since FRAA's Grants Program's inception in 1987, over $250,000 in financial support to individual artists, organizations, teachers, and schools has been awarded.

Established in 1984, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance is a community-based non-profit organization that is committed to preserving, supporting, and promoting the Arts in Florence County. Additionally, FRAA strives to promote and strengthen the arts in the region through its online arts marketing initiative, Pee Dee Arts.

Through March 15th: FRAA Accepting Arts Awards Nominations

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting nominations for its 2014 Arts Awards.  For 2014, four awards will be presented.  More information about the awards can be found below.

The deadline for 2014 Arts Awards nominations is March 15, 2014.
Award nominations should be submitted by email to peedeearts@gmail.com.
An acceptable nomination will include the following:

Name of Nominee
Name of Nominator
Nominator's Contact Info
Reason for Nomination (approximately one paragraph)

You can now make your nominations online.  Click here to view the nomination form.

Below is information about each award.

John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award

The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual from Florence County who has significantly impacted the quality of life in our community through his/her activities, contributions, and/or accomplishments in the arts.  Any individual may be nominated with the exception of current members of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Board of Directors or Staff.

The 2013 Baker Award recipient was Jane Madden.

Business & Arts Partnership Award

The Business and Arts Partnership Award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis.

The 2013 Business & Arts Partnership Award winner was Honda of SC.

Outstanding Arts Organization Award

This award is presented annually to the Florence County arts organization that has a tremendous impact on the community.  This may be through programming, projects, resource development, advocacy or other innovation.  No organization may win this award twice in a four year period.

The 2013 Outstanding Arts Organization Award went to Florence Little Theatre.

The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award (new in 2014)

This award will be presented annually to an educator who either resides or works in Florence County.  Public and private schools educators are eligible for this award, as well as individuals in higher education and those who teach through registered 501(c)(3) arts organizations. 

For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's Awards Program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

Click below to watch the video announcement of the 2013 FRAA Arts Awards:

February 7th: You're Invited to the Opening of Adrian Rhodes' Exhibit in Lake City

From February 7th to March 14th, the Greater Lake City Artists' Guild and the Florence Regional Arts Alliance will bring you Passages, an exhibit of artwork by Adrian Rhodes, at the ArtFields Gallery in downtown Lake City. Passages will open with a reception on February 7th from 5:30 - 7:30pm. There is no admission fee and everyone is invited to attend. You won’t want to miss this dynamic mixed-media exhibit.

This exhibit is the third exhibit brought to the ArtFields Gallery through a partnership between the Greater Lake City Artists Guild and the Florence Regional Arts Alliance.  Last year, Patz & Dogs (featuring artists Patz Fowle and Heidi Bond) and The Great Harvest (photography by Benton Henry) were shown in the gallery.

Rhodes, who studied at the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University, has shown in various galleries throughout the Pee Dee and the Midlands, as well as at Spartanburg’s Carolina Gallery and Charlotte’s Rice Gallery (to name a few).  When asked about the type of work she'll be showing, Rhodes responded that visitors will see mixed media painting and collage rooted in printmaking.

Below is an excerpt from Rhodes’ artist statement:

‘I am interested in the act of making. Rather than expressing a preconceived idea or conveying a specific message, I find that meaning and purpose within the work comes from employing art making as a way to question. Through process the content is revealed to be dependent on the internal logic of the piece. The resulting composition bears many traces of how it was made. While you can see the effects of underlying colors and patterns showing through the topmost skin of paint, there are also the traces evident in the many layers, abrasions and seams within the composition. These tactile remnants of the piece’s foundation lie beneath the surface layer and bear witness to the history of the painting’s creation.’

Rhodes hails from Hartsville, SC, where she lives with her husband, Michael, and adorable daughter, Sophie.

The exhibit will remain on display through March 14th. The ArtFields Gallery's normal operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday and 9am to noon on Fridays. The gallery is located at 110 East Main Street in downtown Lake City.

For more information about the exhibit or the Greater Lake City Artists' Guild, contact Sandy Cook at greaterlakecityartistsguild@gmail.com. For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.

Established in 1984, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance is a community-based non-profit organization that is committed to preserving, supporting, and promoting the Arts in Florence County. Additionally, FRAA strives to promote and strengthen the arts in the region through its online arts marketing initiative, Pee Dee Arts.