The June 25, 2010 CenterStage concert by Tommy Emmanuel produced $9,966.75 (proceeds from tickets) that will be awarded to strengthen arts and culture via the CultureWorks Grants Program.

Personally funded by CultureWorks board member David Christian, the concert showcased one of the world’s great musicians while simultaneously spotlighting (represented in a 100-seat VIP section) the organizations and practitioners that provide such rich arts and culture for the Richmond region. The nearly $10,000 is now added to a pool of funds that will be used for a forthcoming second round of CultureWorks Grants – the first round having been completed on June 30.

CultureWorks, the independent organization formed last year by recommendation of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan, has initiated the CultureWorks Grants Program with initial awards totalling $10,000 to encourage innovation in visual, performing, and literary arts.

● Yellow House – in partnership with Theatre in Battery Park – will use a grant of $4,000 for its outdoor Shakespeare productions that will take place in August in Battery Park and will engage residents of that community.

● Art On Wheels will use $3,000 to provide art experiences to elderly persons whose structured group residences provide limited access to art.

● New Virginia Review will use $3,000 to develop and launch a web-based literary journal of work by middle-schoolers.

“We are so pleased that we can provide financial incentives for innovation,” says Charles Piper, chair of the CultureWorks Grants Committee. “Our focus is on there being new ways of producing arts and culture and new ways for reaching audiences.”

The Committee is composed of representatives of large and small arts and culture organizations, as well as persons representing corporate, foundation, education, and other communities. “This grant will enable us to share the vitality-producing qualities of art with persons who currently have limited access,” says Art On Wheels executive director Andrea Olson.

“There could be no better performer to help us wave the banner of the vital importance of arts and culture,” said Brooks Smith, chair of CultureWorks’ board of directors. “We have heard nothing but high praise from the audience members who experienced Tommy Emmanuel with us.”

The CultureWorks Grants Program will increase in future rounds as it provides subsequent grants not only to organizations but also to individual organizations.

Additional information can be found at www.richmondcultureworks.org.

– The information above was provided by Leslie Huffman with CultureWorks.