Nevada Arts Council announces fiscal year 2020 grant recipients

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Arts Council announced Friday the awarding of more than $1 million in statewide grants to 172 recipients ranging from individual artists to nonprofit organizations and public institutions for the 2020 fiscal year.

Grants were awarded in the following competitive categories: Operating Support; Community Impact; Project for Organizations; Arts Learning Project; Artist Fellowship (Contemporary Arts and Folk and Traditional Arts); Fellowship Project Grant and FY20 Project Grant for Artists – Cycle A. Grant panelists reviewed, deliberated and scored applications in public hearings and final recommendations were approved by the Nevada Arts Council Board at its June 27 meeting.

Following are each of the grant categories and grant recipients:
Operating Support Grant ($543,868.07)
Operating Support Grants strengthen Nevada’s arts infrastructure by supporting general operations of non-profit arts organizations throughout the state. The most competitive applicants offer ongoing, sustained, high-quality outreach programs and arts services or artistic programming in their communities. This two-year grant supports funding for general operating expenses including administrative salaries and benefits, payroll expenses, insurance, facility space rental, utilities and contracted and professional services.

Grants panelists were: Kellen Braddock, Managing Director, Black Mountain Institute – Las Vegas; Ray Gargano, Grants & Cultural Programs Coordinator, Sacramento Metropolis Arts Commission – Sacramento, California; Alexis Hill, Arts, Culture, & Special Events Manager, City of Reno; Melvin Henley, Organizational Development Consultant, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work – Detroit, Michigan and Candace Kita, Cultural Work Manager, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Portland, Ore.

Here is the list of the recipients, location represent and amount

A Public Fit Corporation, Las Vegas, $3,500
A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, Reno, $16,000
Artown, Reno, $23,500
Arts for All Nevada, Reno. $13,350
Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, $18,600
Brüka Theatre of the Sierra, Reno, $6,000
Burlesque Hall of Fame, Inc., Las Vegas, $10,500
Capital City Arts Initiative, Carson City, $4,000
Carson City Symphony Association, Inc., Carson City, $3,500
Carson Valley Arts Council, Minden, $8,000
Churchill Arts Council, Fallon, $13,650
Classical Tahoe, Incline Village, $18,000
Foundation to Assist Young Musicians, Las Vegas, $4,500
Friends of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras, Las Vegas, $8,000.00
Get in the Act! Arts in Action, Dayton, $3,500
Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company, Reno, $3,500
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, $22,750
Las Vegas Philharmonic, Las Vegas, $22,500
Left of Center Art Gallery, North Las Vegas, $3,500
Mile High Jazz Band Association, Carson City, $3,500
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, $20,000
Nevada School of the Arts, Las Vegas, $12,000
Noteable Music Therapy Services, Reno, $15,000
NV Woodchucks, Inc., Reno, $3,500
Opera Las Vegas, Las Vegas, $7,000
Orgonym DBA Artech, Reno, $3,000
Reno Chamber Orchestra, Reno, $12,000
Reno Jazz Orchestra, Reno, $8,900
Reno Little Theater, Reno, $13,950
Reno Philharmonic Association, Reno, $22,500
Reno Pops Orchestra, Reno, $4,000
Sierra Arts Foundation, Reno, $16,568.07
Sierra Nevada Ballet, Reno, $8,700.00
Sierra School of Performing Arts, Reno, $7,000
Signature Productions, Las Vegas, $10,500
Sin City Opera DBA Vegas City Opera Henderson, $4,600.00
Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society Las Vegas, $3,500.00
St. Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, $7,000
The Desert Choral, Las Vegas, $3,500
The Dr. Shirley Linzy Young Artists Orchestra, Henderson, $8,800.00
The Generator, Sparks, $9,000
The Holland Project, Reno, $12,000
The Neon Museum Las Vegas, $22,250
The Orchestra and Community Choral
Artists of the Tahoe Area (Toccata) Incline Village, $6,000
The Reno Dance Company Sparks $9,000.00
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Las Vegas $23,000.00
Virgin Valley Artists Association Mesquite $3,500.00
Western Folklife Center Elko $22,500.00
Wild Horse Productions, Carson City, $4,000
Yerington Theatre for the Arts, Yerington, $8,000

FY20 Project Grant for Organizations ($203,629.93)
The Project Grant for Organizations (PGO) supports the arts and cultural activities of organizations and public institutions. Funds may be used to support the execution of one activity/project or a suite of related activities. Examples of eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, reading, concerts, festivals, and lifelong learning activities.

Grant panelists were: Andrew Akufo, Executive Director, Healdsburg Center for the Arts – Healdsburg, California; Kayla Boettcher, Executive Director, Sitka Summer Music Festival – Sitka, Alaska; Thomas Michel, Director of Development, Nevada Ballet Theatre – Las Vegas; Lindsay Wilson, Professor, Truckee Meadows Community College – Reno;
Recipient, Location, Amount
Build Our Center, Inc. Reno, $4,000.00
Carson Valley Community Theatre, Minden $4,500
Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, Inc. Reno, $4,500
City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission, Reno, $4,000.00
CNY in the Desert Henderson, $4,000.00
Cockroach Theatre Company, Las Vegas, $3,500.00
Controlled Burn, Reno, $3,500
Creative Writing Department (Sierra Nevada College) Incline Village, $4,500
Da African Village Las Vegas $4,500.00
David J. Drakulich Foundation
for Freedom of Expression Reno $4,500.00
Department of Local Arts (City of Las Vegas) Las Vegas $1,648.50
Department of Music (University of Nevada, Reno) Reno $5,000.00
Department of Visual and Public Art (City of Las Vegas) Las Vegas $2,250.00
Department of National Performing Arts
Touring (City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs) Las Vegas $4,000.00
Eureka Restoration Enterprise Eureka $3,500.00
Fine Arts Department (Sierra Nevada College) Incline Village, $4,500
Friends of India Las Vegas, Las Vegas, $3,000.00
Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Sparks, $1,664.04
Goldwell Open Air Museum Rhyolite $4,500.00
Henderson Symphony Orchestra Henderson $3,000.00
Henderson Writers Group  Henderson $4,500.00
Historic Reno Preservation Society Reno $3,600.00
Kizuna Japanese Society Henderson $4,500.00
Laika Press , Reno, $1,580.09
Lake Tahoe Classic Guitar Society, Incline Village, $2,700
Las Vegas Book Festival Department
(City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs) Las Vegas $4,000.00
Las Vegas Men's Chorus Las Vegas $3,000.00
Las Vegas Pipe Band North Las Vegas $4,000.00
Las Vegas Tap Fest DBA SoundSteps Las Vegas $2,000.00
Latino ARTE Reno $4,000.00
Making Music Matter Foundation Las Vegas $4,000.00
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art (UNLV) Las Vegas $4,000.00
Nevada Gay Men’s Chorus Reno $3,430.00
Nevada Humanities Reno $4,000.00
Nevada Indian Commission, Carson City $4,500.
Nevada Public Radio Las Vegas $4,500.00
Nevada Women’s Film Collective Las Vegas $4,000.00
New Dance Foundation for the Arts, Inc Las Vegas $2,013.00
Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association Reno $4,500.00
Opportunity Village Las Vegas $4,000.00
Proscenium Players Inc. Carson City, $3,500
Red Mountain Music Company Boulder City $4,000.00
Robert Belliveau, Rita Abbey Foundation DBA
Desert Space Foundation/Las Vegas
Jewish Film Festival Henderson $4,500.00
Sassabration Inc., Carson City, $3,500
School of the Arts (University of Nevada, Reno) Reno $4,500.00
Shooting the West Winnemucca $3,500.00
Sierra Women's Ensemble DBA Bella Voce Reno $4,000.00
Southern Nevada Chapter of the American
Guild of Organists Las Vegas $4,000.00
Tahoe Chamber Music Society, Incline Village, $4,000
The Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, Virginia City, $2,700
The Lab LV Las Vegas $4,000.00
The Las Vegas Master Singers Ltd. Las Vegas $4,000.00
The Speeding Theatre-Over 55 Henderson $2,544.30
TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada Sparks $3,500.00
UNLV Chamber Music Society Las Vegas $4,000.00

FY20 Arts Learning Project Grant ($149,517)
The Arts Learning Project Grant (ALP) Grant is an annual project grant designed to support arts learning activities, teaching artist residencies, and teacher training for Pre-K through 12th grade. These arts learning activities provide a unique opportunity for students to work with practicing artists through workshops, classes, lectures, discussions, performances and community events.
Grant panelists were: Wayne Cook, Program Specialist-Retired, California Arts Council – Sacramento; Kevin Eberle-Noel, Director of Orchestra Operations and Education, Las Vegas Philharmonic – Las Vegas; Carol Quinn, Professor, University of Nevada, Reno – Reno; Stacey Spain, Professor, Truckee Meadows Community College.
Recipient Location Amount
A Public Fit Theatre Company Las Vegas $4,000.00
Artown  Reno $3,500.00
Arts for the Schools Truckee $4,000.00
Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, $3,000
Bruka Theatre of the Sierra, Inc Reno $4,000.00
Carson City Symphony Association, Inc., Carson City, $4,500
Carson Valley Arts Council, Minden, $2,345
Clark County Children's Choir Las Vegas $4,000.00
Clark County Public Education Foundation, Inc. Las Vegas $4,000.00
Department Arts Camps (City of Las Vegas) Las Vegas $3,500.00
DISCOVERY Children's Museum Las Vegas $2,672.00
Get in the Act! Arts in Action Dayton, $3,500
Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company Reno $4,500.00
House of Blues Music Forward Foundation Las Vegas $4,500.00
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Incline Village $4,500
Nevada Museum of Art Reno $4,000.00
Northern Nevada Arts Council Winnemucca $4,000.00
Notes with a Purpose Henderson $4,000.00
Opera Las Vegas  Las Vegas $4,500.00
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts Reno $4,500.00
Rainbow Company Youth Theatre (City of Las Vegas) Las Vegas $4,500.00
Reno Jazz Orchestra Reno $4,500.00
Reno Little Theater Reno $4,000.00
Reno Philharmonic Association Reno $5,000.00
Reno Pops Orchestra Reno $3,000.00
Sierra Arts Foundation Reno $4,000.00
Sierra Nevada Ballet Reno $4,500.00
Sierra Nevada Chapter of the American
Orff Shulwerk Association Sparks $4,000.00
Sierra School of Performing Arts Reno $3,500.00
Sierra Watercolor Society Reno $3,000.00
Sin City Opera DBA Vegas City Opera Henderson $5,000.00
Tahoe Arts Project, S. Lake Tahoe, 00
The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, Carson City, $3,500
The Reno Dance Company, Sparks, $4,000
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Las Vegas $4,500.00
Western Folklife Center Elko $4,500.00
Wild Horse Productions Carson City $4,000.00
Yerington Theater for the Arts, Yerington, $3,000

FY20-21 Community Impact Grant ($7,500 per year; $15,000 total)
The Community Impact Grant (CIG) is a two-year grant that supports structural change in communities across Nevada through strategic planning, community engagement, and arts participation.
Grants panelists were: Kellen Braddock, Managing Director, Black Mountain Institute – Las Vegas; Melvin Henley, Organizational Development Consultant, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work – Detroit, Michigan; Candace Kita, Cultural Work Manager, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon – Portland, Oregon.
Recipient Location Amount
City of Sparks Sparks $15,000

FY20 Artist Fellowship Grant, Contemporary Arts ($25,000)
The Artist Fellowship Grant (AFG) celebrates the vitality of Nevada’s contemporary arts. It recognizes outstanding individual artists living in Nevada who demonstrate excellence in their work. By acknowledging outstanding artistic accomplishment, the program promotes public awareness and appreciation of the role of the artist in our society.
Grant panelists were: Ivan Lozano, an artist residing in Chicago; Sheila Miles, an artist residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Irene Tsatsos, an artist, writer, and Director of Exhibition Programs/Chief Curator at the Armory Center for the Arts, residing in Pasadena, California.
Recipient Location Amount
Matthew Couper (PAINTING/PRINTMAKING) Las Vegas $5,000
Jen Graham (DRAWING/MIXED MEDIA) Reno $5,000
Sarah Lillegard (CERAMICS/SCULPTURE) Reno $5,000
Marshall Scheuttle (PHOTOGRAPHY) Las Vegas $5,000
Austin Pratt (PAINTING/PRINTMAKING) Reno $5,000
 
FY20 Artist Fellowship Grant, Folk and Traditional Artists ($5,000)

The Artist Fellowship Grant (AFG) celebrates the vitality of Nevada’s Folk and Traditional Arts. It recognizes outstanding individual artists living in Nevada who demonstrate excellence in their work. By acknowledging outstanding artistic accomplishment, the program promotes public awareness and appreciation of the role of the artist in our society.
Grant panelists were: Adrienne Decker, Folk Arts Specialist, Utah Division of Arts & Museums – Salt Lake City, Utah; Brad McMullen, Programs and Gathering Manager, Western Folklife Center – Elko; Langston Collin Wilkins, Director, Center for Washington Cultural Traditions – Seattle

Recipient Location Amount
Doug Groves (RAWHIDE BRAIDING) Carlin $5,000

FY20/21 FELLOWSHIP PROJECT GRANT ($6,500 FY20, $500 FY21 – total $7,000)

The Fellowship Project Grant (FPG) is designed to support artists working in all disciplines who have received two or more NAC Artist Fellowship Grants. These artists are recognized for continuing artistic accomplishment and are actively participating in their art form as practitioners, teachers, or both. This two-year grant recognized the commitment of NAC Fellows and supports projects that encourage the development of new work to share with the public. The Grant Review Panel charged with reviewing the FY20/21 Fellowship Project Grant convened in a public meeting June 13, 2019 to discuss and score 4 applications.
Grant panelists were: Joe Atack, Director of Education, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival – Reno; Sarah Lillegard, Interdisciplinary Artist – Reno; Eric Neuenfeldt, Writer – Philo, California.

Recipient Location Amount
Ann Keniston Reno $7,000
 
FY20 PROJECT GRANT FOR ARTISTS – CYCLE A ($20,860.40)

The Project Grant for Artists (PGA) supports individual artists in the production and presentation of artistic projects. The PGA is awarded twice a year for projects that take place during a specified six-month period. Examples of eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, reading, concerts, the creation of art, portfolio creation, and marketing/promotional activities related to an arts project. Grant panelists were: Joe Atack, Director of Education, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival – Reno; Sarah Lillegard, Interdisciplinary Artist – Reno; Eric Neuenfeldt, Writer – Philo, California; Shakeh Ghoukasian, Executive and Artistic Director, Nevada School of the Arts – Henderson.
Recipient Location Amount
Adriana Chavez  Las Vegas $1,200.00
Chase McKenna Reno $900.00
Cindy Gray  Reno $900.00
Deborah A. Lambin, Carson City, $1,050
Erik Beehn  Las Vegas $1,200.00
Ginger Land-van Buuren Henderson $900.00
Heather Klein  Las Vegas $1,050.00
Heather Lang-Cassera Las Vegas $370.85
Joseph Tatum  Reno $900.00
Keely Cobb Reno $1,050.00
Lisa Wright North Las Vegas $539.55
Michael Spicer Henderson $1,350.00
Napoleon Buenrostro Las Vegas $1,050.00
Paul Fleming Reno $1,200.00
Pierce Kagari Emata Las Vegas $1,200.00
Ray Li  Henderson $1,500.00
Tom Drakulich Reno $1,050.00
Valentin Yordanov Las Vegas $900.00
Yasmina Chavez Las Vegas $1,200.00
Zoe Bray Reno $1,350.00

The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, was founded in 1967 as the state agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. The agency’s programs and services are designed to support creative expression, animate communities, diversify local economies and provide lifelong learning in the arts for all Nevadans. The Nevada Arts Council is funded by the State of Nevada, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other public and private sources.