[Durham INC] Durham Offers Professional Development Scholarships for Cultural Arts Organizations

[PublicAffairs]

[Title: City of Durham Office of Public Affairs logo]

For Details Contact:
Amy Blalock, Public Affairs Manager
919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov


News Release
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2018

Durham Offers Professional Development Scholarships for Cultural Arts Organizations
April 13 Application Deadline

DURHAM, N.C. - Non-profit cultural arts representatives interested in attending professional development training should apply now for a City of Durham scholarship.

The City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Cultural Advisory Board are seeking applications for the second round of its Cultural Arts Capacity Building Grants Program<http://durhamnc.gov/3051/Cultural-Arts-Capacity-Building-Grants>, which funds scholarships for Durham arts and cultural organization representatives to attend professional development training. The program will provide individual grants up to $2,300 to be awarded through a competitive application process governed by the Cultural Advisory Board. Grant awardees must provide a minimum one-to-three match (i.e. one recipient dollar for every three grant dollars) and completed applications must be submitted by the April 13 deadline.

According to Katie Seiz, executive director of the Durham Art Guild and a grant awardee of last year's program, the scholarship funds that enabled her training proved highly useful. "This grant catalyzed the strategic planning process for the Durham Art Guild and allowed us to move strategic planning forward at a time when we really needed it. It is incredibly important for the City of Durham to continue offering these types of opportunities," Seiz said. "Our local nonprofits provide excellent resources and bring immense value to our community. Capacity building is key for the long-term sustainable growth of our nonprofit sector and our arts and culture economy."

The program is funded by the Durham Cultural Master Plan<https://durhamnc.gov/451/About-the-Cultural-Master-Plan>, a joint program of the City of Durham and Durham County approved by the Durham City Council and Durham County Board of Commissioners in 2004. The Cultural Advisory Board and the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development are implementing this grant program as a part of the Master Plan's goal of building the capacity of Durham's existing cultural organizations, events, festivals, and artists. "This grant program is especially useful for the numerous small and medium-sized arts and cultural organizations that make Durham distinctive," said Cultural Advisory Board Chair Dan Ellison.

Applications and full program guidelines can be found on the Cultural Arts Capacity Building Grants Program webpage<http://durhamnc.gov/3051/Cultural-Arts-Capacity-Building-Grants>. Cultural arts representatives interested in more information may also contact Senior Economic Development Coordinator Brian Smith with the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development at (919) 560-4965, ext. 15205 or Brian.Smith at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Brian.Smith at DurhamNC.gov>.

About the City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Guided by the City's Strategic Plan<http://durhamnc.gov/183/Strategic-Plan>, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development<http://durhamnc.gov/446/Office-of-Economic-Workforce-Development> helps ensure that Durham has a strong and diverse economy by increasing the city's tax base through several revitalization initiatives, including new development efforts in the central city area. The department also plans and promotes cultural awareness and events, identifies and recruits target industries as well as assesses and trains Durham residents to fill new jobs.

About the City of Durham Cultural Advisory Board
The Cultural Advisory Board<http://durhamnc.gov/452/Cultural-Advisory-Board> serves as an advisory body to the Durham City Council and the City Manager, and its functions include assisting the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development and advising the City regarding the implementation of the Cultural Master Plan; promoting economic and workforce development through arts and culture including the recruitment and retention of cultural non-profit organizations and for-profit cultural businesses; and advising and advocating for funding for local arts and cultural organizations and facilities.

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[Title: City of Durham Officer of Public Affairs Contact Info]


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