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.