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Newly formed Cultural Foundation of Harrison County offers grants, scholarships and partnership invitation to commission
Summary
Jason Young, newly elected chair of the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, introduced the volunteer board’s grant and scholarship programs and invited the county commission to partner on arts funding and programming. The foundation said it is offering more than $40,000 in community arts grants and two $1,000 renewable scholarships this year.
Jason Young, newly elected chair of the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County’s volunteer board, used public comment time on April 15 to introduce the foundation’s work and invite formal partnership with the commission.
“We are only useful if we are used,” Young said as he described the foundation’s mission to serve as the county’s de‑facto arts council by providing grants, scholarships and advocacy. The foundation said it expects to grant more than $40,000 in community arts project awards this year and to offer two $1,000 scholarships to Harrison County students pursuing majors or minors in the arts; the scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
Why it matters: The foundation’s funding and programming could expand cultural events and arts-related economic activity in Harrison County. Young asked the commission to consider formal channels for coordination and potential county funding to be disbursed through the foundation.
Main details
- Grants and scholarships: The Cultural Foundation said it will award more than $40,000 in community arts project grants for work within Harrison County. The foundation is accepting grant applications and scholarship applications via its website; scholarship deadline is April 30 and grant application deadline is May 15.
- Scholarship specifics: The foundation is offering two $1,000 scholarships to county students studying the arts at the university level; scholarships may be renewed for up to four years.
- Highland Fund for the Arts: The foundation manages the Barbara B. Highland Fund for the Arts and listed recent events funded by the Highland Fund, including national touring acts and visiting ensembles (examples provided by Young: Second City national tour, On Your Feet, Mountain Stage visit, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Branford Marsalis performance at the Robinson Grama Stage). Young said unannounced visiting performers are planned for the fall.
- Invitation to partner: Young asked the commission to consider using the Cultural Foundation as a county arts partner and funding conduit, and he said the foundation is entirely volunteer-run with a 13-member board that fundraises through donations and events.
What commissioners said: Commissioners thanked Young for the presentation and gave him time to present the foundation’s priorities. The commission did not take formal action during the public-comment period but directed staff and commissioners to note the foundation’s deadlines and expressed appreciation for the volunteer board’s work.
Next steps: Applications for the foundation’s scholarships and grants remain open until the stated deadlines; Young supplied no contact information during the comment period beyond asking commissioners to contact him directly for follow-up.
