Applications for AinE Grants must be signed by school principals and submitted by September 30. Selections are made by the board of the Arts Council and announced by end-October. The visiting artists and performers must normally be from the rosters of artists on the website of the Maryland State Arts Council (www.msac.org), but exceptions may be arranged for local and national/international artists through advance coordination with the Arts Council.
AinE program funding must be matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by the requesting school—most often from parent-teacher organizations. Last year the Arts Council approved overt $27,000 in AinE Grants, with $13,000 provided by the Maryland State Arts Council and the other $15,000 generously contributed by four local organizations: Artistic Insights Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Carpe Diem Arts, the Ruth and Robert St. John Foundation, and the Dock Street Foundation.
At 7 pm on Wednesday, September 5, the Arts Council is offering an AinE Workshop, combined with a visiting performer block-booking meeting with Busy Graham of Carpe Diem Arts . This will occur at the Arts Council office at 215 Bay Street in Easton–the county office building behind the ponds on Bay Street between the Easton Parkway and North Washington Street. All are welcome, but to ensure sufficient handout materials those planning to attend should tell the Arts Council in advance.
Information/application packets for AinE Grants are available for downloading from the Arts Council’s website: www.talbotarts.org. For further information contact the Talbot County Arts Council by phone 410-310-9812 or email gearly@talbotarts.org.