Ind. extends grants to teaching artists

For the first time, the Indiana Arts Commission will allow teaching artists to compete with Indiana schools in the Arts in Education Granting Program.

Susan Britsch, community development manager and arts education coordinator for the commission, said a number of factors allowed for the change.

“Schools don’t have as much time to apply for grant funds due to other responsibilities like testing grades or attendance tracking,” she said. “This really opens the application base, and hopefully schools and teaching artists will find the benefit to collaborating through this grant program.”

The additional stipulation expands the grant program to different markets, said Rex Van Zant, marketing and communications director for the commission. Schools are no longer solely responsible for finding artists, but artists now have the chance to bring their experiences to the schools of their choice.

“Artists are always looking for opportunities to share what they do,” Van Zant said. “I think they’re just as aware, if not more aware, of the number of schools with arts programs being cut or completely eliminated. In a sense, they’re trying to give back and share their talents and experiences with younger people, as well as get additional exposure for what they do.”

Individual proposals can be made out for up to $3,000 for project-related costs,
according to the press release.

Before, grants have been helped expose students to different artists inside the classroom, as well as symphonies and other educational points of interest outside, Britsch said.

Leon Enneking, general music teacher at Batesville Middle School in Batesville, Ind., has obtained grants through the program for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

“I write a lot of grants, and it has been one of the most helpful organizations I’ve dealt with,” he said of the commission.

Enneking used the funds for guest artists, such as Cuban and African drummers.

“We’ve done a variety of guests with different funding for 10 years,” he said. “It’s what we do and what kids have come to look forward to.”

The funds cannot purchase permanent facilities or equipment, Enneking said.

“The things I do with the kids are valuable,” Enneking said. “It allows artists to essentially write their own grants and follow some kind of dream or something they would like to do they don’t have funding for.”

With about $35,000 to allocate this year, Britsch said the commission wants to fund 11 or 12 different projects.

“We’ve seen a wide range of project ideas that have been successful and extremely impactful to students in the classroom,” Britsch said. “Students and schools benefit from the expertise of writers, artists and musicians across the state.”

The Cultural Trust Fund, which helps support cultural resources for citizens, has been the main source of funding since grants were made available in 2008.

Arts trust license plates feature a dancing star figure atop a multi-colored bar logo with the words “Celebrate the Arts” across the bottom. The plates cost $40, $25 of which is donated to the trust fund.

“Purchasing a license plate helps arts education, future generations of artists and arts patrons in Indiana,” Van Zant said.

A good following has emerged with about 2,500 plates sold each year, Van Zant said.
If chosen to receive a grant for the upcoming year, Enneking would continue to hire guest artists.

“There’s nothing like getting a master musician, someone who’s an expert in the area you’re covering,” Enneking said. “It’s one of the best things I do. I’m still a student. I learn. They learn. Everyone learns.”

Although he acknowledged the additional competition he will face with the eligibility of teaching artists, Enneking praised the opportunity the grants provide.

“Anyone with interest in promoting the arts should look into writing a grant,” Enneking said. “If there’s something that drives them or they have something to implement, it’s a great resource that we have that I don’t think enough people take advantage of it.”

Grant information and guidelines will be available in mid-August. Applications must be submitted before Oct. 11.