State awards grants to Carson Valley organizations

The Sierra Nevada Ballet in Genoa received more than $8,300 in grants from the Nevada Arts Council, it was announced Wednesday.

The Carson Valley-based ballet company received a partners in excellence grant for $5,863 and a $2,511 arts education component.

The arts council approved 149 grant awards for a total of $560,837 for fiscal year 2011 annual grants through the arts education and grants program. Rural Nevada arts organizations received nearly $90,000.

The Carson Valley Arts Council received a $3,004 partners in excellence grant.

Carson Valley organizations receiving project grants included the Douglas County Public Library in Minden, which got $2,411; the Partnership of Community Resources with $1,701 and the Town of Genoa which received $1,365.

The arts council's grants panels convened in public meetings to evaluate fiscal year 2011 applications and recommend funding for the council's board to consider during its spring meeting.

Because of budget cuts sustained during the 2009 Legislature, panel-recommended funding exceeded the allotted amounts, requiring an average cut of 44.8 percent per category. Challenge grants and design arts grants were suspended for 2011 to accommodate budget cuts. Design arts applicants were allowed to apply in the project category.

"Our grant panelists continue to affirm that the Nevada creative sector is doing a stellar job in providing our communities and schools a broad range of cultural activities," said Chairman Tim Jones. "Though the board is delighted to provide these grants throughout the state, we are saddened that the level of funding has been devastated because of budget cuts to the Arts Council."

The Nevada Arts Council is a division of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The department serves Nevada's residents and visitors through cultural and information management, preservation and promotion of cultural resources, and education.

The department also includes the Division of Museums and History, State Historic Preservation Office, State Library and Archives, Comstock Historic District Commission, Literacy Coalition, and the Commission for Cultural Affairs.