Arts & Science Council Makes First Round of Investments

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) announced today its first round of investments for the 2012 fiscal year. The grants, issued to 69 arts, science, history and heritage organizations and projects in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County total $7,618,326.

The investments, funded through ASC’s Annual Fund Drive, were distributed as follows:

$4,035,008 for museums, science centers and historic sites,
$3,304,308 for the performing arts,
$279,010 for community and diversity projects.

ASC also announced today the winners of the McColl Award and the inaugural Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards.

The McColl Award, established in 2001, honors the significant role of Hugh McColl Jr. and his wife Jane and their commitment to growing and supporting the cultural community. The $25,000 award is given every three years for the commission of a new creative work. Past winners include Carolina Raptor Center, Carolina Voices, Charlotte Symphony, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, The Light Factory and Moving Poets Theatre of Dance.

Since its inception, only organizations competed to earn the McColl Award. This year, ASC extended the grant opportunity to individual artists to compete with organizations.

Artist John W. Love, Jr. is the recipient of the 2011 McColl Award. He will use the grant to create FECUND, a multi-disciplinary event that includes a performance work, gallery exhibition, web initiative and workshops. In FECUND, each component draws off the other and brings to life the imaginary universe of the characters in the performance piece.

The Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards were established earlier this year through a significant gift from The Cato Corporation. The purpose is to recognize three exceptionally creative teachers who have distinguished themselves in teaching the arts, sciences or history, or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the arts, sciences or history into the core curriculum.

The $1,500 awards will be presented annually and is funded through ASC’s Cato Excellence in Teaching Endowment.

The recipients of the first Cato Excellence in Teaching Awards are Barbara Tobin, Quail Hollow Middle School; Kathy Graser, Mint Hill Middle School and Steve Oreskovic, Randolph Middle School.

ASC will invest a total of $11.3 million in the cultural sector this year. Additional investments will be made throughout the year.

To view the first round of investments, click here.

Contacts:
Aaron Fiedler | 704-335-3055
Krista Terrell | 704-335-3035.

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