Two arts entities in Pike County were awarded grant funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts at its September meeting in Fairhope.

The Troy University Department of Theater and Dance received a $3,500 Arts in Education award in support of its Summer Spotlight guest teaching artists.

The Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center received two grants, $3,500 for its ArtBridges in School program and $2,000 for exhibition coordinator support.

Tori Lee Averett, Troy University Department of Theater and Dance chair, said she is excited and thrilled with the ASCA grant award.

“The funds will be used to bring guest teaching artist to our Summer Spotlight camps,” she said. “Every summer, the Department of Theater and Dance offers four different programs – Spotlight on Dance and Creative Drama, Performance Intensive and Tech and Management Intensive. Professional guest artists lead classes and workshops and direct performances. Funds from this grant will be used to bring these artists to campus. We are very appreciative to ASCA for this grant award.”

Vicki Pritchett, Johnson Center for the Arts executive director, said the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center is always thankful to ASCA for its continuing support.

“If it were not for ASCA, there is no way that we could carry our arts programs to the schools,” Pritchett said. “In fact, the artists for our 2016 ArtBridges Summer Workshop will be going into the classrooms Thursday and Friday to demonstrate how what was learned in the workshop is being integrated into the everyday classroom.”

As for the funding for the exhibition coordinator support, Pritchett said personnel is always an issue when trying to maintain a cultural arts center.

“It is vital to our center to keep an exhibition coordinator to show and curate our art,” she said. “ASCA grants make a difference in what we do in support of the arts in the schools and in the community.”

Dora James, ASCA chair, said the council is pleased to support educational groups, community organizations and various arts institutions with the recently approved grants.

“Funds awarded through the council’s granting process provide a better education for students, enhancement for Alabama’s creative economy and quality of life for all Alabamians,” James said.

ASCA awarded 128 grants totaling $1,689,700 at its meeting in Fairhope on Sept. 9. This round of grants will support arts in education, folk arts, community arts, literature, performing and visual arts programs Oct. 1, 2016 through Sept. 30, 2017.

ASCA make grants to non-profit organizations, schools, universities, cities and a wide range of community groups.

ASCA funds are matched by contributions from businesses, individuals, local governments and earned income by the grantee. Arts programs, assisted by ASCA grants, have a track record of contributing to community development, education, cultural tourism and overall life in virtually all regions of the state.

ASCA is the official state arts agency of Alabama. The staff of the council, directed by Al Head, administers the grants programs and provides technical assistance in arts planning and programming.

The council receives its support through an annual appropriate from the Alabama Legislature and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.