By Sara Penny

The Cedar City Arts Council awards up to 20 mini-grants each year. The next deadline is Feb. 28 and the application is on the website under support or directly at https://www.cedarcityartscouncil.org/support/quick-grants/.

Cedar City Arts Council Artists’ Mini-Grants are awarded semi-annually to individuals, groups, or organizations in the visual, performing, and literary arts to support creative endeavors that will strengthen communication between artists and the community. Grant funds may be used to purchase supplies or equipment; rent display or performance venues; support mileage or registration costs to educational or training sessions; purchase promotional advertising; or other needs as demonstrated in the grant application. Our goal is to broaden our cultural landscape through unusual, unique, and innovative ideas, events, and projects.

Preference is given to art projects that engage the community.

In analyzing the grants from 2008 through 2022 the committee tried to spread the joy among many artistic disciplines. Some are counted as art medium plus education. Several of the groups we helped in the beginning are now non-profits. 

Sixty three grants have gone to music for instruments, sound systems, concert venue rental, recordings, and even the lights that are used by the Iron County Acoustic Association for their shows. A student needed a case for his string bass and a cellist needed repairs on his cello. A student quartet needed printed music and a composer needed upgrades to his computer system.

Arts education programs have received 39 grants from mask making to providing choir music for special programs.

Three of the local arts groups used their grants to get nonprofit status and now receive RAP (Recreation, Arts, and Parks) funding through Cedar City.

Photographers have received seven grants for exhibits and materials.

Visual artists have received 44 grants, including lighting systems for public exhibits. 

Dancers have received seven grants and there have been eight theater production grants.

The Arts Council has helped the Sagebrush Fiber Artisans get established as well as the Southern Utah Woodturners. Grants for Off the Cuff Comedy and the Red Rock Film Festival have helped them get established.

There was one grant for culinary arts which has developed into cooking classes at the Senior Center.

Twelve local artists have attended conferences and workshops with their grants to help us raise our local artistic standards and bring new ideas.

Clay and sculpture classes have received a grant for equipment and supplies as have the fabric art classes. Both metal and rock arts are represented among recipients.

There have been three art therapy projects that were made possible with the mini-grants.

Literary grants have included publishing poems and hosting public literary readings.

Apply for your art projects before Feb. 28. “Sometimes it takes a couple of applications to be funded, but we are working to develop more community art. We appreciate all of the innovative and exciting projects funded by the mini-grants,” said Roger Gold, Cedar City Arts Council President.

A committee led by Mary Anne Andersen reviews the applications and makes awards. Some of the recipients perform at the Arts Council Socials. The next one will be Tuesday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at Festival Hall, upstairs at the Heritage Center. The Social is free and the public is invited. Follow the @CedarCityArts social media for updates.

Funds for the mini-grants come from membership fees and grants. To join the Arts Council go to the website under Support or directly to https://www.cedarcityartscouncil.org/support/membership/. Several local businesses offer discounts to CCAC members.

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More information: cedarcityartscouncil@gmail.com

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: CedarCityArts

Application for grants: https://www.cedarcityartscouncil.org/support/quick-grants/

The Cedar City Arts Council  promotes local arts events and provides opportunities for area artists. We appreciate support from the local RAP tax, as well as Utah Division of Museums and Arts. Memberships and other sponsors are also crucial to our mission. Let us know about your arts events and we will help share.

You are invited to participate in Cedar City Arts Council events

* Final Friday Art Walk on the last Friday of the month from June through September from 5 to 8 p.m. from Artisans Gallery along University Blvd and continuing to the Southern Utah Museum of Art. Free art displays and live music. The public is invited.

* Literary group book discussions

* Public socials to connect the community with local artists, arts organizations, and arts educators.

* Mini-grants to build our arts community, applications due August and February, on website under support

* Promoting local artists of all ages and in all mediums

Receive a monthly arts newsletter with membership, on this website under Support

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You are invited to the CCAC Summer Social, Wed., July 20

Park Place Eatery, 23 West Center, 7 p.m.

Music by Ellyn and Jennilyn Rock

Photography Display by Rheana Gardner-Reeves

Introduction to the Southwestern Heritage Center by Roice Nelson

Dance Presentation by Christy Johnson

Free public event and refreshments will be served

It is that time of year to submit mini-grant applications.

Application and more information at https://www.cedarcityartscouncil.org/support/quick-grants/

Grants up to $500 for organizations and individual artists. Preference to projects that engage the community in the arts.

The Cedar City Arts Council has been awarding mini-grants since 2008. As of 2021 the Arts Council has given over $63,000 and awarded over 158 mini-grants since starting the mini-grant program in amounts from $100 to $500 per project. The Cedar City Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the arts in Iron County. Our mission is to foster a thriving arts community in Iron County through advocacy, appreciation, education, and support.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Entry forms and more info at https://cedarcityartscouncil.blogspot.com/2024/08/art-and-photography-contest-for-2024.html In conjunction with the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival we encourage entries from Kindergarten through 12 grade. Additional questions: cedarcityartscouncil@gmail.com

EXTENDED Deadline to Oct. 12, 2024
Submit entries to Artisans

As you may know the previous deadline for art submissions for this year’s Livestock Heritage Art Contest was set for September 27th. Part of the reason for the early deadline this year is because SUMA needed to close their museum on this date in order to prepare for their next major exhibit installation. Each year we average about 60 submissions to put on display for the contest. After collecting artwork last Friday, we only have about 20 submissions in total. We desperately need more submissions and have our community see the artistic talent of our Iron County students!

To help extend our deadline for additional art submissions Steve Yates at Artisans Gallery has offered to be a drop off location for the next couple of weeks with an extended submission deadline of October 12th. If artwork is framed, GREAT! However, not everyone can afford a frame. Just submit your students’ artwork with the submission form and we will cut a nice black poster backing frame for it to be hung and on display. If it’s a 3D sculpture, we will have a pedestal to display it. All artwork whether they receive awards or not will be hung, labeled and on display at the Heritage Livestock Festival event at the Diamonds Z arena.

Artisans Gallery is located at 94 W Center St, Cedar City, UT 84720 just east of Southern Utah Museum of Art. Artisans Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 12:-4 pm and Friday and Saturday from 12 – 5pm. If any art teachers can not deliver their students’ artwork to the Artisans Gallery during those days and times, then I will personally come out to your school and pick up the submission for you. 

If you have further questions about the contest, submissions instruction, or gallery exhibit display at the Heritage Festival Please let me know care of cedarcityartscouncil@gmail.com.

Randy Lawrence Seely

CVHS Visual Arts Instructor/Tech Theatre Coach

“Ready to  Venture Out?  Here are Two Good Ideas”

by Mary Anne Andersen for Iron County Today

I’ve got a couple of suggestions for things that you can do as the weather warms up and we cautiously start thinking about places to go and things to see.

After a long winter hiatus, the Cedar City Arts Council is presenting another arts social.  The previous one was in October as we sat outdoors on one of the last warm days of last year.  This one will also be outdoors on what we hope will be the warmest day of this year so far.  We will gather at the Lions Pavilion in Main Street Park on Saturday, May 8th, at 2:00 in the afternoon.  Now, I’m going to say this several times:  bring a lawn chair.

The program will feature Elaine Vickers discussing her newly-published book, Fadeaway.   Elaine is a local author whose newest work has garnered some national attention.  Besides discussing the book itself, Elaine will talk about the process of writing and how she manages to balance all the demands in her life.  It sounds like it will be another addition to my books-to-read shelf.  

Sarah Bearnson, a past recipient of an Arts Council mini-grant, will sing and play her guitar.  Sarah is the proprietor of a music studio called Cedar Melody Music, where she gives music lessons to students of all ages.  After she played for us once before, I received a request to have her return.  Here is that encore.

Other music will be provided by Derek Wood, a rather shy young friend of mine.  Derek is a very good violinist whom I have accompanied many times in the genre of classical music.  (He is also a high school freshman taking a piano class at SUU!)   So I asked him if he could fiddle, and he said yes.  I wonder if he will actually tap his foot…..

Bring a lawn chair.

Mona Woolsey will be there to promote the show of women artists that is currently up in the Cedar City Offices hallway and Council chambers.  That is the second suggestion I have for something to do as you get out and about.  We went to the opening night reception of the show and we 1) were surprised at the number of people there, and 2) are going back when there are fewer people.  We wear masks when we leave home, but most of those at the reception apparently don’t practice that habit.  So we didn’t stay long, just long enough to put a couple of giant cookies on a plate and sneak away.
But we will go back, and you’ll want to go also.  Many of the names of the artists we recognized:  Woolsey, Marchant, Robb, Braithwaite, but there are others I was unable to get close enough to read.  There was a real variety of media and styles, and some sculpture-like pieces as well.  The piece titled Main Street Nocturne stood out from a lot of landscape work.   

Go see that show.  Come to the social.  And bring a lawn chair.  

The Cedar City Arts Council Sponsors Multiple Business Display of Student Artwork

By: Shaylene Baruffi-Jensen

The Cedar City Arts Council is sponsoring an exciting event involving several businesses in Cedar City’s Historic Downtown Main Street & Center Street. These businesses will partner with local elementary, junior, and high schools: Gateway Preparatory Academy, North Elementary, Canyon View High, Canyon View Middle, South Elementary, Crimson Counseling, Enoch Elementary, Cedar Middle, and Escalante Valley. The McHale family will exhibit at Ellsworth Staffing. Students will exhibit their beautiful works of art in business storefront windows. This window front Art Walk will run for two weeks and provide a walkable venue for everyone in our community to observe and appreciate.

Cedar City businesses displaying student artwork include Whittlesticks, Color Country Art Supply, Clark & Linford Jewelers, Jensen’s Vacuum & Sewing Machines, Leavitt Insurance, Bombay Café, Inwest Title Co, Cardon’s, Firehouse Subs, Hunter Cowan, Sheer D’Lite, Gunjah the Bead Forest, Main Street Books, Palette Bakery, Platinum Salon & Beauty, Artisans Art Gallery, Swan Photography, Park Place Eatery, Cedar Sports, Celebrate the Occasions, Ellsworth Staffing, and Bristlecone Coffee. 

Get outside and support your local art students and small businesses! The student art show dates will be from Saturday, April 10^th through Saturday, April 24^th 2021.  Cedar City Arts Council Board member Susan Wooten has organized this event.

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Full exhibits at https://cedarcityartscouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/businessart-student-art-walk-april-2021.html

More information: cedarcityartscouncil@gmail.com

Artwork from Canyon View High Park of the community exhibit

 

Video of the reveal of the new stained glass by Cami Dailey: Video reveal of window

This was a mini-grant project that uses agate with blue and white glass. It took over 200 hours to complete. See it at 127 North Main in Cedar City. Thanks to Cami and her team for making Cedar City more beautiful.

When you become a member of The Cedar City Arts Council receive discounts at these wonderful local businesses. Present your Cedar City Arts Council Membership Card to receive your discount.

Join now: Membership link

1. Utah Shakespeare Festival

Receive $10 off of your purchase of a ticket during USF’s 2020 Season. Excludes Premier Seating.

2. Southern Utah Museum of Art

$10 off of your purchase of $30 or more at the SUMA Gift Shop. Limit one per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers, discounts, or certificates.

3. Groovacious

Receive $5 off of your purchase at Groovacious Records.

4. Poser’s Place

Receive $5 off of your purchase at Poser’s Place.

5. SimonFest

Receive $5 off of your purchase of a ticket to SimonFest’s 2020 Season.

6. The Wizz

Receive $5 off of your purchase at The Wizz.

7. Main Street Books

Receive $5 off of your purchase at Main Street Books.

8. The Grind Coffeehouse & Cafe

Buy One Drink, Get One Free at The Grind Coffeehouse & Café.

9. Centro Woodfired Pizza

Receive $5 off of your purchase at Centro Woodfired Pizza.

10. Cedar Music Store

Receive $5 off of your purchase of $20 or more at Cedar Music Store.

11. Color County Art Supply

Receive 10% off of your order at Color Country Art Supply when you show your Cedar City Arts Council Member Card.

12. AE&D Art Studio

Receive One Free Custom T-Shirt or One Free Hour of Studio Time at AE&D Art Studio.

13. Cedar City Children’s Musical Theatre

Receive $5 off of your participation in Cedar City Children’s Musical Theatre.

14. Artisans Gallery

Buy One, Get One Free Bar of Artisans locally made soap.

15. Orchestra of Southern Utah

Receive $5 off of your purchase of a concert ticket or a season ticket from The Orchestra of Southern Utah.

16. UPS Store

Receive $5 off of your purchase of $30 or more at The UPS Store.

17. Suzuki Strings

Receive $5 off of a semester Group Course fee at Suzuki Strings.

18. MiChelle Heinz ‘s Do’s

Receive $5 off of your service at Do’s by MiChelle Heinz.

Entries posted at https://cedarcityartscouncil.blogspot.com/2020/09/art-contest-with-cedar-livestock.html