The Woodlands Arts Council Awards Over $32,000 In Microgrants To Area Schools and Private Organizations To Support The Arts

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Arts Council (TWAC) proudly awarded a total of $32,420 in microgrants to nine local schools and three area private organizations/artists on January 5, 2022.

The awards were the result of the inaugural The Woodlands Arts Council’s Dr. David Gottlieb Education Microgrant and The Woodlands Arts Council Artist Microgrant programs that were launched last fall by TWAC to support arts in the local community. Grants ranged in size from $250 to $5,000 per project.

The Woodlands Arts Council’s Dr. David Gottlieb Education Microgrant was available for exceptional public and private school visual and performing arts teachers and arts-related nonprofit applicants throughout Montgomery County. They submitted applications for specific projects in the visual and performing arts. Two of the projects chosen to be funded will be sponsored by Chris and Christi Wren in memory of Judith K. Wren.

The Woodlands Arts Council Artist Microgrant supported individual artists who submitted applications for specific projects in the visual or performing arts. The proposed projects directly engaged and/or impacted students or underserved adult populations.

The applicants’ projects ranged from a new kiln and a sketchbook exchange to print-making supplies and a digital art curriculum that calls for iPads, just to name a few.

'With this inaugural year of microgrants, we are expanding The Woodlands Arts Council's ways of bringing art to everyone,” said James Stilwell, President of the TWAC Board of Directors. “Since its inception, The Woodlands Arts Council has charitably given and spent more than $1.2 million dollars with our outreach and public art programs. Why? Because Art Matters! In the year to come, we look forward to telling the community more about the impact of these great microgrant projects!'

The Woodlands Arts Council will also be awarding several Student Art Scholarships to high school seniors in the Montgomery County area. Applications are due Jan. 24, 2022. More information is available at https://www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/p/programs/studentartscholarship.

Jenny Carattini-Wright, Executive Director of TWAC, added, “We are thrilled to be able to promote the arts in our local community through these microgrant outreach endeavors. This was our first year to launch these programs and it was a tremendous success. We look forward to 2022 and encourage local educators and artists to visit our website and follow us on social media for your next round of application opportunities.”

Visit www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.com to learn more about the Council’s programs and Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival set for April 9-10, 2022. Find out how you can be part of the fun by volunteering, sponsoring, and participating. Because Art Matters!

The Woodlands Arts Council provides regional, cultural, and educational enrichment opportunities that encourage, support and promote the visual and performing arts in our community. From the award-winning Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival to public art installations and the year-round community and educational outreach programs of Because Art Matters, the council has one primary goal….making our community better … Because Art Matters!