Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Center reaps awards

Idaho Arts Commission funds aid Sun Valley Center, other groups

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The Wood River Valley’s premiere and original arts organization, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, became the recipient this spring of three grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts equaling $30,898. Several other valley organizations were also given grants.

The Sun Valley Center received three separate grants: Cultural Facilities, General Operating Support and Arts Powered Learning for Education Grant. Each grant area has its own policies and rules. These areas are reviewed by Peer Review Committees, with a final review done by the Idaho Commission on the Arts-appointed commissioners.

The Center received $9,450 for a Curriculum Consultant for the after-school arts program. The application for this grant focused on the needs of the program, now in its fourth year of existence. The consultant will work on keeping the program cohesive, relevant and meshing with state and district arts curricula, as well as work to support the in school arts programs. The other areas that the grant will help fulfil are evaluation of the on-going program while in session as well as expanding the program for middle and high school students. Having a viable candidate was a prerequisite to being given the grant.

"Our goal is to have the candidate on board this summer, and then work through the year on implementing the changes and suggestions to take affect as of the fall of 2005," SVCA Marketing Director Kristine Bretall said.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival also was awarded a $11,550 Arts in Education grant, and the Idaho Parents Unlimited for VSA Arts of Idaho received $10,050.

The Sun Valley Center’s second grant, for $11,448, was awarded for General Operating Support for the Center and its programs. The Center has approximately 15 employees, a gallery and gives away over $40,000 in scholarship money each year. Of the 120 programs presented by the Center annually, 70 percent are free, including entrance to the gallery, art classes for kids, families, and adults.

The Boise Arts Museum received the next largest General Operating Support grant of $9,249, while the Idaho Falls Arts Council received $8,804.

Within the valley, other General Operating Support grants are for Hailey’s Company of Fools, which received $7,192; Sun Valley Performing Arts Center received $6,926; Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center received $5,100 to support its festival; Sun Valley Summer Symphony received $4,047; Caritas Chorale received $3,371, and the New Theatre Company received $3,403.

The maximum allowed for a Cultural Facilities grant is $10,000 and the ICA awarded the Sun Valley Center the full amount. The Center will use this grant to study the feasibility of constructing a new facility. The ICA’s criteria in this category calls for a study that matches the significance of the project with the ability to exhibit extensive vision and planning in regard to a proposed project.

The ICA only awarded two Cultural Facilities grants. The other full grant of $10,000 went to the Nampa Majestic Entertainment Foundation for the Majestic Theatre Renovation.

"They come in every year and compete very well," Melanie Palmer, grant specialist of ICA, said about the Center’s annual grant applications.

The Sun Valley Center serves over 24,000 people a year, and has a membership of 1,200. The operating budget comes from a number of sources. The Wine Auction, now considered one off the top 10 auctions in the country, brings in 66 percent of the annual operating budget. Last year, the Wine Auction brought in $600,000. Membership dues make up another 10 percent, individual donations make up 11 percent, foundation support is 7 percent, corporate support is 4 percent and government support makes up 2 percent.

"We are so grateful for the support received from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. It’s gratifying that our peers have awarded these grants that make our programs possible," Sun Valley Center for Arts Executive Director Sam Gappmeyer said.

The Western States Arts Federation also recently awarded the Sun Valley Center two grants in support of the H.T. Chen & Dancers performance and residency and the Ethos Percussion Group performance and residency. Both engagements are scheduled as part of the 2004-2005 season.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.