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.

March 4th is FRAA's next Quarterly Grant Application Deadline

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting quarterly grant applications from artists, organizations, schools, and teachers for arts projects scheduled to begin July, August and September 2014.  Applications are due on or before 5pm on March 4th.  Applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before March 4th.  

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.

October 23rd: Darby to be featured at Live @ Central

On October 23rd at 6:30pm, a great friend of FRAA, Betty Ann Darby, will present “Where did the names of the Florence Schools come from?” as part of Central United Methodist Church's hit series Live @ Central.  Please join us at Miss Darby's presentation.

Betty Ann remembers when Circle School became McKenzie School, when Florence Junior High School became Poyner Junior High School and she has many other anecdotes to share. A Florence native, Miss Darby taught in the Florence District I music system for 39 years and will help to fill in some blanks in what we don’t know about the Florence schools in the second half of the Twentieth Century! 

For the “Live @ Central” evening, the Program begins at 6:30. There is a dinner at 5:30pm. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children. 

Reservation for dinner at 843-662-3218.

Betty Ann Darby is the namesake of FRAA's annual scholarship program.  Click here for more information about that program.

November 15th is the next deadline for applications to FRAA's Grants Program

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting quarterly grant applications from artists, organizations, schools, and teachers for arts projects scheduled to begin April through June 2014.  Applications are due on or before 5pm on November 15th.  Applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before November 15th.  

Applications can be obtained by contacting the Florence Regional Arts Alliance at peedeearts@gmail.com. Applicants may request up to $2,500.  For the upcoming deadline, FRAA will be awarding up to $10,000 to successful applicants.  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.

Lake City's Jones-Carter Gallery to host W.H. Johnson Exhibit

A traveling exhibit of work by Florence’s own and one of America’s most powerful African-American painters William H. Johnson will visit the county for three months beginning in September, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

“William H. Johnson: An American Modern” is a traveling exhibit that features 20 pieces from the James E. Lewis Museum at Morgan State University. The work exhibits aspects of his career from post-impressionism and expressionism of the 1920s to his refined aesthetic in the 1940s through expressionist and vernacular landscapes, still life paintings and portraits that feature Johnson’s primitivism aesthetic within the context of modernism.

The work will be on display at the newly renovated Jones-Carter Gallery in Lake City from Sept. 21 to Dec. 29. Executive director of the Museum Society of Lake City Ray McBride, who oversees the gallery, said the exhibit was months in the making, but was confirmed last week per the facility being brought up to Smithsonian standards later this month by adding a fire suppression system and backup generator.

"It had been tentative that we could (get the exhibit) once we met requirements for the building,” McBride said. “We’ve reported hourly humidity for the past three months and progressed, bringing the building up to code with a timeline showing that we can meet the requirements.”

The $20,000 participation fee was covered by the museum. The Lake City Partnership Council will reportedly, through a grant, cover the gallery’s upfitting costs and for a conservator to unpack the exhibit, costs that McBride said will be worth it.

“This will possibly rival the numbers from ArtFields throughout the event,” McBride said. “It’s all about economic development and drawing people to Lake City.”

And with the largest exhibit of Johnson’s work on display in the state, interest is already mounting.

Born in Florence in 1901, Johnson moved to Harlem when he was 17, working odd jobs to save money to attend the National Academy of Design. Upon completion of school, Johnson’s teacher and mentor Charles Hawthorne helped Johnson study in France for three years; a transformational time for the young artist when he enhanced his painting style while studying European artists.

He returned to New York in 1929 and traveled to Denmark a year later where he married Danish artist Holcha Krake. He remained there, later moving to Norway, until returning to New York in 1938.

Johnson’s return marked a transition in his art, a transition where he began exploring the black experience, reminiscing of life in the rural south earlier in the century paired with upbeat ambiance of Harlem, according to Smithsonian American Art Museum chief curator Virginia Mecklenburg.

In 1941 Johnson had a solo exhibition, but a series of events over the next few years caused his decline including a studio fire and the death of his wife, pushing him back to South Carolina for support and then to Denmark where he was diagnosed with advanced syphilis. He returned to New York in 1947 where he remained in a hospital for 23 years until his death in 1970. He ceased painting in 1956.

More than 1,000 of Johnson’s artworks were saved from destruction by the Harmon Foundation and donated to what is now the Smithsonian American Art Museum under the terms that the Smithsonian donates artworks to several black colleges and universities.

The exhibit will open to the public on Sept. 21 during the South Carolina Tobacco Festival.

Article by Gavin Jackson; reposted from scnow.com.

Quarterly Grants Program Update

For the fiscal year 2013, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance awarded $11,750 in Quarterly Grants to Florence County artists and arts organizations.  In all 12 quarterly grants were awarded.  According to the final reports from awardees, the projects funded through FRAA's grants program reached nearly 7,000 people, including 1,772 youth.  

For the fiscal year 2014, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance has budgeted $19,000 to award to Florence County artists, non-profit organizations and teachers.  For more information about this program, click here.

FRAA's Quarterly Grants Program is made possible through funding from Honda of South Carolina and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

FRAA Receives Funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance has been awarded two grants from the South Carolina Arts Commission for the 2014 fiscal year.  The funding will go towards FRAA's Quarterly Grants Program and used for operating support.  

"We're fortunate to have a supportive arts commission in our state and we're fortunate to have a great arts community in Florence County to benefit from the generosity of the South Carolina Arts Commission," said Quincy Kennedy, President of FRAA.

In total, FRAA will receive $14,529 in funding from the South Carolina Arts Commission.  A majority of that funding will go toward FRAA's Quarterly Grants Program.  For the 2014 fiscal year, FRAA will give away nearly $20,000 in grants to Florence County artists, arts organizations, teachers and schools.  Honda of SC partners with FRAA to operate the Quarterly Grants Program.  The Arts Commission awarded $5,038 to FRAA for operating costs.  

"We can't thank the Arts Commission enough," said FRAA Executive Director Bruce Douglas.  "In addition to generous funding, the Arts Commission provides leadership, guidance and support to our organization, as well as the other  arts organizations and individuals in Florence County and across the state."

The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location and circumstances.  Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development.  Headquartered in Columbia, the Arts Commission is funded by the Sate of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.  For more information, click here or call 803.734.8696.  

July 23rd: 'Understanding Art 101' with Larry Anderson in Lake City

As part of its Summer Arts Series, the Florence County Library System, in cooperation with the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and the Greater Lake City Artists Guild, is offering a special workshop at the Lake City Public Library on Tuesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m.  “Understanding Art 101” is designed to help people gain a basic awareness of art history, art appreciation, as well as how to interpret various types of art.  The workshop will be presented by Lawrence Anderson, Professor and Department Chair, Fine Arts Department at Francis Marion University. 

This event is sponsored by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and brought to you by the Greater Lake City Artists Guild.  Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Lake City Library.

All programs are free but registration is required.  For more information or to register, please call (843) 394-8071.  

2013 Arts Awards Video

Check out this video (below) showcasing the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's 2013 Arts Awards recipients:

Congratulations to the winners!

Through September 3rd: FRAA accepting Quarterly Grant Applications

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting quarterly grant applications from artists, organizations, schools, and teachers for arts projects scheduled to begin January through March 2014. Applications are due on or before 5pm on September 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.  If mailed, applications must be postmarked on or before September 3rd.

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.

FRAA announces its 2013 Arts Awards Recipients

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) recently announced its 2013 Arts Awards recipients. Among the winners were two local arts leaders, one arts organization and a global corporation. “We’re very fortunate in Florence County to have more worthy candidates than awards to give away,” said Quincy Kennedy, President of FRAA. “We feel like our Board did a great job in narrowing down the nominations we received from the community; it’s not an easy task though,” Kennedy remarked.

Jane Madden, the engine behind the Art Trail Gallery’s quick and continued success, received the John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award. Madden’s efforts over the last five years have been a major factor in the “people side” of Florence’s downtown revitalization. “As improvements are continuously being made downtown, Jane is one of the main people promoting events and encouraging folks to visit our revitalized downtown,” said Kennedy.

The Florence Little Theatre received the Outstanding Arts Organization Award from FRAA. “Most people are aware of the great shows FLT produces. Not everyone is aware of the outstanding programming they put on for young people and for lifelong learners through their Senior Readers Group. The impact FLT has on Florence County is truly amazing,” said Bruce Douglas, Executive Director of FRAA.

The Business & Arts Partnership Award recipient for 2013 is Honda of South Carolina. Honda, which operates out of Timmonsville, supports several community-based programs, projects and events, both arts and non-arts-related. “Honda’s continuous support of the arts, and the Arts Alliance, is why they are receiving this award,” said Kennedy. Honda partners with FRAA to present the Excellence in Arts Education Awards to Florence County’s public high schools. Honda also funds FRAA’s quarterly grants program, which disburses money to organizations, artists and teachers throughout Florence County.

The inaugural Frank Crow Service Award winner is Bill Kress. Kress, a long-time Florence Regional Arts Alliance board member, staff member and volunteer, worked with Frank Crow and was honored to receive the award. “This award means alot to me because it has Frank’s name on it,” said Kress. Crow served as FRAA’s director from 2003-2012 before medical issues forced him into retirement. The Crow Award will be presented annually to an FRAA board member, staff member or volunteer who has had a tremendous impact on the organization.


In 2014, FRAA will add a fifth award to its lineup. The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award will be presented in May of next year. More information about the award will be announced soon.

To honor the winners, FRAA produced a series of videos. Visit floscarts.org or http://vimeo.com/channels/peedeearts to view the videos.

For more information about these awards or any other Florence Regional Arts Alliance program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.

14 Florence County Students honored by FRAA & Honda

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, South Florence High School and Hannah-Pamplico High School. 

In all, 14 students received honors in visual art, chours, dance, drama, orchestra and band. The honorees were:

Visual Art

Amanda McDaniel, Lake City

Taylor Crisp, Hannah-Pamplico

Natalie Ard, South Florence

Taylor Eliesee Thompson, West Florence

Chorus

Tyler Evans, Lake City

Amber Purvis, Hannah-Pamplico

Katie Meixsell, West Florence

Dance

Joye Altman, Lake City

Clenishia Woods, South Florence

Orchestra

Kiana Creese, West Florence

Band

Kristin Bowman, Lake City

Alena Isgett, South Florence

Alex Pettigrew, West Florence

Drama

Colton Gregg, South Florence

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.  

Four South Florence High School Students Receive Awards from FRAA

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) recently recognized four outstanding graduating seniors at South Florence High School. Each year since 1997, FRAA has awarded the Excellence in Arts Education Awards to graduates from all over Florence County. This tradition was continued on May 9th as Alena Isgett, Clenishia Woods, Colton Gregg and Natalie Ardwere honored from SFHS.

Alena Isgett was honored for outstanding achievement in band. Clenishia Woods was presented with the award for being the top graduating senior in SFHS’s dance program. Colton Gregg received an Excellence in Arts Education Award for his talent in drama. Natalie Ard was recognized for being the top graduating senior in visual arts. Michele Pridgen, a Board Member for the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and Assistant Manager of Administration at Honda of SC, presented the awards in front of a packed auditorium at South Florence.

Graduating seniors from each of the seven public high schools 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 and performances.

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, Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Program or other Florence Regional Arts Alliance initiatives, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.

June 1st: Quarterly Grant Application Deadline for FRAA

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 through December 2013.  Applications are due on or before 5pm on June 1st.  Applications sent by mail must be postmarked on or before June 1st.  

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.