Grants making at the local arts level is a rare, but essential component in fostering community development through the use of artistic and cultural resources. The Horizons Grants Program is a quieter force, standing behind and lifting up local arts organizations, artists and community service agencies. Funding for Horizons Grants comes from city, state and federal sources, earned income and private and corporate contributions. These funds are used for a variety of purposes which include:

• Services and funding for cultural and community organizations, individual artists and educators who provide arts and cultural opportunities for young people;
  
  
• Programs and activities that benefit the citizens of Saline County by making the arts a part of their everyday lives;
  
  
• Efforts that promote, develop and preserve the artistic, cultural, historic and aesthetic resources of the community and the region.

How does this happen in our community? Here are examples of projects, equipment and initiatives supported by Horizons Grants dollars in 2006:

• Melinda Graham created fiction and poetry linking her professional practice as a neo-natal nurse with her work as a writer. Community outreach created by the project resulted in a staff-oriented journaling workshop and a journaling guide for parents.
  
  
• Assisted the Salina Art Center in creating “Artist Exchange” a mentoring program providing training and stipends for local and regional artists to teach and learn together; and “Artist at Work” a professional development program teaching artists how to promote, present and manage their work.
  
  
• The Saline County Commission on Aging launched “The Sunflower Therapeutic Arts Program.” The program targets frail and disabled senior and involves them in a variety of offerings including painting, music, poetry, storytelling, drama and more. Persons served include those with Alzheimer’s disease to people with a wide range of disabling conditions: stroke, arthritis, visual impairments, depression and more.
  
  
• Joseph Lidgett, lighting designer for Salina Community Theatre, traveled to Chicago to study two Broadway touring productions. This was one of the new “Artist Awards,” $500 given to Saline County artists to provide a simple and immediate opportunity to engage in a learning opportunity; and to educate and prepare artists to make application to the Developing Artist Category of the grants program.

2006 HORIZONS GRANTS $56,225 was awarded in these categories: 8ight Artist Awards; 2 Developing Artist grants; 4 Sudden Opportunity grants; 5 Organization/Project grants; 3 Organization/Advancement Grants. Since 1986, an impressive $884,018 has been granted to Salina artists and organizations

Three Organizational Project Grants, two Lana Jordan Developing Artist Grants, and three Organizational Advancement Grants involved and served over 27,000 Salina and area citizens this year.

Download Horizons Grants Guidelines and Applications

• Lana Jordan Developing Artist Grants (September 1, 2008 deadline)
• Artist Awards (September 1, 2008)
• Organizational Project Grants (December 1, 2007 deadline)
• Organizational Advancement Grants (December 1, 2007 deadline)

   

For further information, contact:
Salina Arts and Humanities Commission
P.O. Box 2181 • Salina, KS 67402-2181
phone (785) 309-5770 • fax (785) 826-7444
e-mail: sahc@salina.org