Summer Camp Scholarship Applications

Summer camp applications are now available. Please visit our Summer Camps page for complete details of the variety of summer camps we are offering this summer. Please contact Marianna with any questions.

2023-24 Grassroots Subgrants Awarded

The Surry Arts Council subgranted a total of $42,398 in Grassroots funds from the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Program to nine Surry County nonprofit groups who provide arts programming. The subgrant committee consisted of Lenise Lynch, Swanson Snow, Heather Elliott, Jody Crawford, and Terri Champney. The Surry Arts Council Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the committee.

Agencies receiving subgrants include: Mount Airy Downtown, Inc.; Veterans Memorial Park; Friends of the Mount Airy Library; Voce; African American Historical and Genealogical Society; Mount Airy Downtown Business Association; Mount Airy Photo Club; Pilot Mountain Development Corporation; and the Reeves Community Center Foundation. All agencies who applied received funding.

SURRY ARTS COUNCIL 2024 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

The Surry Arts Council awarded over $2,700 in scholarships in 2024 to Surry County students planning to further their education in the arts. The Scholarship Committee consisted of Henry Rowe, Kathy Pruett, Jennie Lowry, Sylvia Lowry, and Adam Rudisill. Marianna Juliana, Surry Arts Council’s Contract & Grant Administrator, coordinated the process that was held with in-person auditions. Applications were received for Dance/Movement, Design, Drama, Music, TV/Film/Communications, Visual/Fine Arts, and Voice.

- Raegan Amos, Voice, is the 2024 Jimmy Lowry Scholarship recipient. Amos is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Education with a concentration in Musical Theatre.

- LillyRuth Beck, Drama, is a recipient of part of the Sandy Beam Scholarship. Beck is a sophomore at Lees-McRae College, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.

- Nicholas Calvillo-Solis, Instrumental Music, is the recipient of the Mildred Wolfe Robertson Scholarship. A senior at Mount Airy High School, Calvillo-Solis plans to attend Lenoir-Rhyne University and pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

- Aysha Easter, Visual/Fine Arts, is the recipient of the Betty Lynn Scholarship. She is a senior at Mount Airy High School and plans to attend Surry Community College to obtain an Associates of Fine Arts degree.

- Estella Heid, Dance/Movement, is a recipient of part of the Sandy Beam Scholarship. Heid is a senior at Penn Foster High School and plans to attend community college, first, and then obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

All of these students have connections with the Surry Arts Council as volunteers in summer programs, high school internships, and/or participants in community theatre and other programs and classes.

These endowments are set up and managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Winston-Salem Foundation. For information regarding the establishment of your own endowment or scholarship fund, and/or making contributions to existing endowment and scholarship funds, contact Tanya Jones, tanya@surryarts.org.  Additional scholarships were awarded for SAC in-house programs and summer camps by the Kester Sink Birthday Endowment, John L. Gravitte, DDS, PA “Dentistry with Heart” scholarships, and other earmarked contributions.

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Arts Scholarships

Scholarships are made possible by endowments and scholarship funds established by donors. These endowments are managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Winston-Salem Foundation. The Surry Arts Council works with these foundations to set up new endowments at no cost to the donors. Contributions to existing endowments are always welcome.

The following endowments and funds are set up to provide scholarships for area students planning to further their education in the arts:

- Kester Sink Birthday Endowment (scholarships for Arts Alive and Missoula Children’s Theatre)

- Cindi and Andy Griffith Endowment (free arts programming)

- Barbara and Emmett Forrest Endowment Fund (Andy Griffith Museum and Mayberry Days)

- Mildred Wolfe Robertson Scholarship Fund (scholarship for students pursuing instrumental music degrees)

- Sandy Beam Scholarship Fund (scholarship for students pursuing vocal or musical theatre degrees)

- Diane Holcomb Endowment (musical theatre performances)

- Betty Lynn Scholarship Endowment (scholarship for students pursuing dance or acting career)

- Surry Arts Council Endowment (free arts programming)

- Sarah J. and Richard T. Howerton, Jr. Memorial Fund (choral performances)

- The Jimmy Lowry Scholarship Endowment (donor directed scholarship)

Grassroots Arts Programs Subgrants

Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils. Surry Arts Council serves as the North Carolina Arts Council’s partner in awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Surry County.

Regional Artist Project Grant

This program, funded by the North Carolina Arts Council, provides the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. These grants support professional artists in any discipline and at any stage in their careers to pursue projects that further their professional development. Types of fundable projects include:

- Creation of new work

- Purchase of equipment and materials

- Professional development workshops

- Professional development workshops

- Development or upgrading of promotional materials such as brochures, DVDs, CDs, and websites

Grant amounts vary from region to region. Statewide, they range from $300 to $5,000, though most grants are between $500 and $2,000. Inquire at the Surry Arts Council for assistance with these grants.