>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

GROWISER: Local ecological restoration group was awarded funds to purchase materials for children’s art workshops. - Submitted photo

The UCCC does this by following the guidelines of the Union Country Cultural Plan, which includes assisting in the establishment of and maintaining a Union County cultural facility, providing professional workshops for citizens involved in the cultural community, creating cultural marketing materials, promoting regional arts and heritage events and organizations, and providing matching grants directly to artists and others working to culturally enrich our community.

The 2008 Cultural Enrichment Grant applications are now available for download at unioncountyculture.com in both Word and PDF format. In an effort to maintain a small carbon footprint the coalition has decided against individual mailing of the application forms this year. Visit the Cultural Coalition web page to download and print an application.

The year 2007 proved the biggest turnout yet. A record of eight applications were submitted, and all eight were either wholly or partially funded.

The 2007 awards included:

• The Grande Ronde Youth Orchestra’s award to provide scholarships for private lessons for youth orchestra members.

• Basalt Literary Magazine’s application was awarded

funds to help cover the costs of publication.

• The Union County Oral Histories Project was funded in the effort to transcribe 52 oral interviews.

• The Waypoint Studio was awarded funds for facilities improvement.

• The Grande Ronde Overlook Wildflower Institute Serving Ecological Restoration (GROWISER) was awarded funds to purchase materials for children’s art workshops.

• Two artists, Mona Dinger and Jo Topholm, were awarded funds toward individual artist projects. 

Andy Huber of GROWISER reported that the children’s camp was conducted over a three-day period with specific days designated for specific age groups. During this time 12 instructors taught all who attended scientific inquiry, artistic expression and creative play which focused on mammals, birds, trees, rocks and soils, insects and wildflowers and their connection to life on earth.

Feedback from teachers and learners alike was inspiring, and GROWISER plans to continue this kind of program in the years ahead.

Basalt Magazine requested funds to help with publication costs for its color issue, volume 2, number 1, 2007, in which it showcased the work of Hispanic artist and printmaker, Enrique Chagoya. Chagoya was schooled first as a political economist at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and is now an assistant professor of art at Stanford University. His art spans several cultures and disciplines, and his work is exhibited and held in permanent collections in some of the United States’ finest art museums: The National Museum of American Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others.

His appearance in Basalt’s special issue on poetry in translation both compliments and challenges what people think about borders, identity and how people view their neighbors to the south.

Artist Mona Dinger reported a deep gratitude for her award. She says, “I applied the grant money towards the purchase of a new digital camera that has allowed me to pursue my passion for photography. During the last year I have entered 11 juried shows, exhibitions and print exchanges. I have also received three very encouraging and challenging awards. After 30 years of putting my artistic life on hold this grant and my on going success have helped refuel my creative passion.”

This year the UCCC hopes for a larger application pool. The 2008 grant deadline is May 15, 2008. Those who were funded in 2007 or earlier should be sure to include a copy of their final report with their 2008 grant application.

Follow the directions closely. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Applications are reviewed and recommendations for awards are made by outside panels of experts. Award letters will be sent on or around, June 1, 2008.