Arts & Entertainment Community Government
Arts Commission recommends groups to receive Creative Endeavor grants
The Gig Harbor Arts Commission voted to recommend that 14 organizations receive Brandani Killilea Creative Endeavor grants at a special meeting on March 24.
The city announced March 23 that it renamed the grant program in honor of Joanne Brandani and Stephanie Killilea, arts commissioners killed in an attack in late February.
Arts Commissioners weighed awarding money to 15 organizations and one individual for events or programs. The commission recommended full grants for nearly all applicants, for a total of $35,000 in grants.
Recommended grantees
The suggested grantees and their award amounts are:
B’s Bagels: $500 for a Mothers Day Market
Ghostlight Performing Arts: $3,500 for Shakespeare in the Park
Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour: $3,000 for the annual Open Studio Tour
Harbor History Museum: $3,500 for the Midway School Experience
Key Peninsula Farm Collective: $2,200 for the Key Pen Farm Tour
Narrows Music Society: $2,000 for its Harbor Winds Young Artists Concert
Peninsula Art League: $2,250 for the National Fine Art Show
Peninsula Youth Orchestra: $3,200 for its Summer Youth String Camp
Peninsula Hands On Art: $2,000 for the Amazing Trees of Color
Peninsula Hands On Art: $2,000 for Piecing It Together
Skansie Netshed Foundation: $2,350 for Fishermen Feed the World
Spectrum Choral Academy: $3,000 for Gig Harbor Sings
Tacoma Art Museum: $2,000 for Up and Atom STEAM Library Events
Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance: $3,500 for Chalk the Harbor
Arts and culture
Commissioners highlighted that art and/or culture had to be a major part of a prospective grantee’s application. A few applicants that received funding didn’t receive full awards, in part because commissioners struggled to see how art or culture played a major role in the application.
For instance, the Key Peninsula Farm Collective requested $9,000 for the Key Pen Farm Tour. Commissioners recommended only giving $2,200, both because art appeared to be a secondary consideration and because the farm tour lacked a specific Gig Harbor focus.
On the other hand, Skansie Netshed received almost all its requested funding (minus $2.14), because though it lacks a specific arts aspect, it has cultural value and a focus on Gig Harbor history.
The Gig Harbor City Council will vote to award the grants at its meeting on April 13.