SoNA Awarded $300,000 in Grants
by July 21, 2016 10:48 am 164 views
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas has received more than $300,000 in grants to support the symphony and its arts education programs in elementary schools throughout Northwest Arkansas, according to a news release.
The symphony was given three grants over the past two months from the following organizations:
- Walton Family Foundation, $263,750
- Arkansas Arts Council, $33,440
- Walmart Foundation, $22,620
“We are extremely grateful for the continued support of these important funders as we enter an exciting phase of growth and development,” SoNA executive director Matthew Herren said in the news release. “Support for more in-depth education for teachers and students in area classrooms and excellence within our own organization help us increase our impact and ensure our longevity in the community that we’re so privileged to serve.”
The Walton Family Foundation grant is a three-year grant for SoNA’s ImagiMusic program, which is a partnership with Northwest Arkansas schools, and in line with state Common Core standards. It will pay for ImagiMusic development workshops for educators, offering strategies for using music to teach students.
Also, the grant will allow the symphony to offer “competitive compensation to retain musicians of the highest caliber,” help in its development and to build up its capacity, the news release shows.
The Arkansas Arts Council and Walmart Foundation grants will also support the ImagiMusic program, which serves about 800 students in Washington and Benton counties.
The symphony, which is directed by Maestro Paul Hass, will start its 2016-2017 season in December and includes six performances at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.