Building and expanding arts opportunities for Berkeley County residents is the goal of the new grant program being announced by the Berkeley Arts Council. Submissions for the first application cycle are due by September 17, 2012 with awards expected in November. Applicants (individuals or organizations) must be residents of, or operate from facilities within, Berkeley County, WV.

The first program of this type to be offered in Berkeley County, funding for the grants is provided in part by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, to be matched by support from local sponsors and donors.

Projects, which must be completed by June 30, 2013, should be designed with one or more of the following objectives:

– expand availability and accessibility of the arts within our community;

– involve young people in the arts;

– provide arts experiences to new or underserved audiences;

– use the arts in an innovative way to enhance community life;

– show collaboration among two or more organizations and/or individuals.

More details and an application package are available on the Berkeley Arts Council website, www.berkeleyartswv.org/amplify. Grants will be up to $500, or half the total project budget, whichever is less. Applications will be reviewed by a panel from the community with recommendations to the Arts Council board for final approval.

Email questions to berkeleyartswv@gmail.com, or call 304-262-1611.

This program is presented with financial assistance from the WV Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.