"We're always excited to help students learn about the arts," Arts Council President Frances Dates said. "Teachers are so creative in teaching and including different forms of art in class, so we look forward to seeing the results of the grant money."
Schools receiving the grants were B.B. Comer Memorial Elementary, B.B. Comer Memorial High School, Indian Valley Elementary, Knollwood Christian School, Nichols-Lawson Middle School, Pinecrest Elementary, Sycamore Elementary and Sylacauga High School.
Funding for these grants came from dinner theater ticket sales, membership donations and grants from local banks.
Dates said community involvement makes the grants possible.
"The community plays a key role in assisting our efforts," Dates said. "Whether by becoming a member of the council, attending the dinner theater or giving a donation, we are very thankful for the community support we receive."
Local schools were asked to complete a proposal detailing the project their grant would fund. The project must be something that has not been done before and must be related to the arts, which includes drama, dance, music, storytelling, poetry and visual arts.
The proposals are reviewed and approved by the council.
Comer High School math teacher Philip Jenkins is using the grant for a project called "The Art of Math."
Math students will find a piece of art that inspires them and recreate it using only geometric figures. They will then paint their drawing onto a canvas to be shown at an art exhibit.
Dates said this type of project is exactly what the grant is intended to support.
"You don't often see math incorporated with art, so this is a very creative project," Dates said.
Jenkins said he is thankful for the grant.
"I am so excited we get to do this project, and I know our students are going to love it," Jenkins said. "It's a great chance for them to look at art in a different way."
Comer Elementary is using the money to bring five storytellers from the Alabama Storytellers Association to their school. The storytellers incorporate singing, dancing, acting and art into their stories.
Principal Melia Brashear said the storytellers are always a great treat for students.
"We're all going to love it," Brashear said. "Usually we try to bring one, but we're really excited to have five this year."
Knollwood Christian School is using the grant for a Shakespeare Festival to be held this spring.
Administrator Larry Jones said they chose Shakespeare because of its important messages.
"Shakespeare has great educational value, but with some modern-day messages that we want to teach our students," Jones said.
He said their school appreciates the encouragement it receives from the council.
"We're happy to be awarded the money, but we also enjoy the compliments we get from the council," Jones said. "They always tell us they are impressed with what we do, and it's good to know we are on the right track with our arts program."
Among other projects, Nichols-Lawson students will paint murals to be hung around the school and Sylacauga High students will attend the Shakespeare and Latin-American festivals in Montgomery.
This is the council's third year to award the grants.
Contact Emily Adams at eadams@dailyhome.com.
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