North Tidewater News

To celebrate and enhance arts offerings in the city, the Newport News Arts Commission recently presented 25 grants to community organizations.  The grant funding, which totals $159,379, supports dance, media, music, theater, visual, literary, and related arts.

“Newport News is home to a thriving arts community, with talented creators and performers inspiring residents and visitors across various platforms,” said Mayor Phillip Jones.  “The arts provide a wealth of benefits to communities, from fostering a welcoming sense of place and supporting physical, mental, and emotional health, to stimulating economic and business activity and offering forums for collective problem solving and collaboration. The 25 agencies Newport News is funding deliver innovative programs that engage varied audiences, celebrate our city’s diversity, and promote civic engagement.  I look forward to the unique initiatives that will come to life over the next year.”

Grant funding is divided into two categories – General Operating Support and Special Projects. For Special Project grants, funding is provided for activities targeting students and special audiences. In both cases, the minimum grant award is $500. 

Grant recipients include:

• Access Virginia
• Big Pink Music (New in FY 2024)
• The CAN Foundation (New in FY 2024)
• Ferguson Center for the Arts
• Hampton Roads Philharmonic
• The Mariners' Museum and Park
• Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center
• Mildred McDaniel Concert Series
• Mosaic Steel Orchestra
• Newport News Public Art Foundation
• Peninsula Community Theatre
• Peninsula Youth Orchestra
• Port Warwick Foundation 
• Rainbow Productions, Inc
• Shark City Drum (New in FY 2024)
• Tidewater Arts Outreach
• Virginia Arts Festival
• Virginia Choral Society
• Virginia Living Museum
• The Virginia Opera Association, Inc
• Virginia Stage Company
• Virginia Symphony Orchestra
• WHRO
• Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning Virginia, Inc

This annual Arts Commission grant program is part of the city’s Community Support Agency Grant initiative and is supplemented by a $4,500 State Creative Communities Partnership Grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. To be eligible for a grant, non-profit organizations must be housed within the city or be able to clearly demonstrate how they serve Newport News residents. They must also have been in existence at least a year, have a Board of Directors and visible support from the community, provide programs or activities that directly benefit Newport News residents, and agree to comply with funding guidelines.

The Newport News Arts Commission was established in 1980 to help City Council review and address requests for arts-related financial support. The Commission has 12 Council-appointed members, one School Board representative, nine General Public representatives, and two youth representatives. 

Original source can be found here.