Porter County Community Foundation Awards Inaugural Sparking the Arts Grants

Porter-County-Community-Foundation-sparking-the-arts-2015-grants“Creativity is contagious, pass it on,” said Barb Young, President of the Porter County Community Foundation at the Foundation’s inaugural award presentation of Sparking the Arts grants. Friends of the Foundation and art enthusiasts gathered at the Memorial Opera House on Tuesday for the announcement of recipients and celebration.

The Foundation’s Sparking the Arts giving circle awarded nearly $14,000 to five local organizations. Grants were awarded to: 4th Street Theater to purchase a sound system; South Shore Performing Arts to fund music and artistic fees; Memorial Opera House to promote theater for at-risk youth; Chicago Street Theater to help expand its 61st season; and Pines Village Retirement Communities to create an Art Contemplation and Meditation Trail, which will be an extension to the Valparaiso Art Walk.

The Foundation launched Sparking the Arts in 2014 with the mission to support and promote the arts in Porter County. “At the Foundation, we believe that art matters – to all of us,” said Young. “The arts impact our lives in many ways – whether it’s a visit to a museum, theatre performance, or just singing in the shower – our lives are enriched by the arts.”

In addition to the 2015 grants, the Foundation sponsored the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra summer performances at Valparaiso’s Central Park Plaza and supported the Portage Community Concert Series for the past two years.

Sparking the Arts is dedicated to fostering a more visible role for the arts in Porter County. The goal is to support and promote the arts in Porter County by awarding annual grants and, at the same time, build an endowment fund to support the arts forever. Sparking the Arts seeks to promote public performances or displays of art works in Porter County; enhance the capacity of arts organizations and the arts community; promote artistic quality; foster and support local talent of all ages through art organizations; and inspire community pride.

For more information about Sparking the Arts or to express yourself with a gift, contact the Foundation at 219-465-0294 or visit portercountyfoundation.org.