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1st Local NEA Grant Award Winners!

1/30/2024

1st time NEA Grant Award Winners

Two Central Florida arts groups have received their first-ever
grants from the federal National Endowment of the Arts.

The Steinway Society of Central Florida and Winter Park based
Open Scene were each granted $10,000.00 for their projects.
Steinway uses their grant to support the free piano lessons it
provides to Orange and Seminole County students from low-
income families.

The Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) receives funding from the Seminole County Board of Commissioners and advocates in Central Florida for Seminole County’s art-rich community. As the designated official recipient since 1995 of revenue from the sale of Florida State of the Arts specialty license plates, SCAC has awarded more than $370,000 in Seminole County grants.

Grants are given in 4 categories: Cultural/Historical Organization; Education Outreach; Community Outreach; and Individual Artist. We had a total of 8 qualifying non-profits with which to share the 2023 license plate proceeds of approximately $13,500. The maximum grant award allowed any organization is $2,000, and this year's grant awards totaled $12,800.

After the 3-member Grant Review Panel rated all 8 applications, they met with the applicants in an open meeting on August 18th for a Q & A session. The FY 2023-24 grant awards are as follows:

- Florida Sculptors Guild $1,800 for reVision-Seeing By Hand-The Workshop (sculptor exhibit for the blind and visually impaired)
- Hagerty High School Band Boosters $1,800 for musical instruments for members of the Huskies band
- Johnson Hill-Washington Heights Community Outreach, Inc. $500 for their 2024 Black History/Juneteenth Program
- Love Your Shorts Film Festival $1,700 for the 2024 festival
- Orange Blossom Blues Society, Inc. $1,600 for Blues In The Schools Program
- The Ritz Theater at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center $1,800 for The Ritz Theater Junior Repertory Company
- Seniors For A Better Community $1,800 for the Young At Art Program
- St. Johns River Festival of the Arts, Inc. $1,800 for their Art-for-Kids Program

L. - R.: Anthony Aramendia (SCAC President); Donna Bundy (SCAC Executive Director); The Honorable Lee Constantine (Seminole County Board of County Commissioners); honoree John A. Williams (heART for the Arts Award winner); Rosalie Cook, Ed.D. (SCAC board member)

The annual meeting for the Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) was held on Tuesday, September 5th at the Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford. The board at that time recognized John A. Williams (of Wayne Densch, Inc.) as the recipient of the 2023 heART for the Arts Award, for an unprecedented second time, acknowledging his personal dedication to advancing the arts in Seminole County. The board reiterated that this award was given for his individual commitment. While his business, Wayne Densch, Inc., its employees, and in fact, the entire Williams family, are known for their long-term contributions to charitable organizations in Seminole County, this year's award speciifically acknowledges John Williams' own personal service and leadership.

Over the years, Mr. Williams provided unparalleled financial support to SCAC in the form of title sponsorships and donations of beverages for the annual SCAC golf classic, Hoooowl for the Arts,heART for the ARTS Gala, auctions, and other fundraisers. Through Wayne Densch, Inc., he has assisted many non-profit community partners to enhance our quality of life, including the Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Chance 2 Dance, St. Johns River Festival of the Arts, Central Florida Zoological Society, Kids House of Seminole, and Boy Scouts of America-Central Florida.

History of SCAC:
Formed in 1994 as a non-profit organization, the Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) is best known as a source of funding to local arts and culture agencies and activities. In 1995, the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners designated SCAC as the official recipient of revenue from sale of the Florida State of the Arts specialty license plates.
SCAC advocates for the preservation of cultural and historic heritage including performing, literary, and visual arts and sciences. SCAC serves to promote and support the arts through art appreciation and community involvement.
SCAC sponsors two major awards per year. In association with the Seminole County Board of Commissioners, a joint presentation is made in May to the Artist of the Year, a Seminole County resident who is a performer, visual artist, historian or author, who has contributed time and talent for the enrichment of Seminole County, and who is currently active in advancement of the arts. In addition, the heART for the Arts Award in September recognizes a person, organization, or business known to have consistently partnered with or greatly supported SCAC and/or other arts and cultural organizations within Seminole County.
SCAC maintains a dedicated Board comprised of members who represent a broad cross-section of the community including the arts, educators, business professionals, and representatives from other cultural organizations, government entities, and educational institutions, and may have representatives from Seminole County Public Schools, the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners, Seminole State College, the Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, and the University of Central Florida.

L. - R.: 2023 Board of Directors - Rosalie Cook, Ed.D.; Barbara Hughes; Donna Bundy (Executive Director; Steve Nelson; Bonnie Sprung; Stephen Summers, Ph.D.; Mary Blake; Melanie Mucario, Esq.; Josie Foranoce; Anthony Aramendia.

SCAC President Anthony Aramendia presents the 2023 heART for the Arts Award to John A. Williams.

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2023 Artists of the Year

7/3/2023

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The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners and the Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) recognized 2 Artists of the Year for 2023 at the latest County Commissioners’ meeting.

This year breaks with tradition by honoring not one, but two collaborating local artists, Saulius J. Jankauskas, MD (glass art and glass enamels) and Irma Kirveliene (internationally recognized faux finisher, muralist and restorer of fine furniture).

Both organizations realize the important role the arts play in the quality of life of Seminole County residents. Accordingly, they acknowledge the contributions each year of an individual Cultural Artist (performer, visual artist, historian or author) who is a resident of Seminole County and contributes time and talent for the enrichment of Seminole County.

Longwood based board-certified plastic surgeon Saulius J. Jankauskas, MD and Irma Kirveliene, both of Lithuanian descent, both premier artists in their own right, pooled their considerable talents and dedicated their time for the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center at the historic Ritz Theater in downtown Sanford, transforming the interior of the theater with art deco-inspired walls hung with Saulius’ original art glass sconces.

Saulius J. Jankauskas, MD, a native of Detroit with a love of poetry, Lithuanian folklore, and religion, who has glass creations in private, corporate and museum collections, is also the head of research and development at Unique Glass Colors, LLC in Casselberry, developing new products and creating solutions to problems in glass enamels, and has served on the SCAC board for more than 10 years.

Irma Kirveliene, a graduate of Vilnius Academy of Art in Vilnius, Lithuania, is passionate about painting on canvas, mural art, and classical music, with exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe, often collaborates on residential and commercial projects with interior and large-scale event designers and donates her time and talent to Ronald McDonald Charities.

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SCAC 2022 Annual Meeting

8/30/2022

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The Seminole Cultural Arts Council's Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 5pm at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center / Ritz Theater located in Historic Downtown Sanford.

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Seminole Cultural Arts Council

SCAC is a catalyst for the preservation of local cultural and historic heritage, including performing, literary, visual arts and sciences; serving to sustain, develop and advance the cultural life of Seminole County.

1st Local NEA Grant Award Winners!

2023-2024 Program Awards

2023 Annual Meeting

2023 Artists of the Year

SCAC 2022 Annual Meeting

Seminole Cultural Arts Council

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