Normal announces Harmon Arts grant awards totaling about $52,600

Town officials announced the recipients and award amounts for the Harmon Arts grant program, naming more than two dozen local arts organizations, school groups and festivals. The program’s total annual allocation was $50,000 this year, and the presenters said $52,600 was spent because of carryover funds from the prior year.

Grant recipients and awarded amounts read into the record included: 30th Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band, $1,500 (John Hammond, John Bergman); Bloomington Normal Community Concert Band, $1,000 (Mark Weidinger, Randy Crump); Brass Band of Central Illinois, $2,000 (Maggie Mills); Concerts on the Quad, $1,700 (Angela Davis, Sandra Hughes); Foxtel (Foxtel) Film Festival, ISU School of Communication, $2,500 (Lauren Slosky); Further Jazz Inc., $3,000 (Glenn Wilson); Heartland Theater Company, $1,650 (Dale Bradley); Holiday Spectacular, $1,000 (Marcia Bassilock); Illinois Symphony Orchestra concerts about town, $2,500 (Darren Burnett); Chamber Music Festival and Camp, $2,300; Jump for Joy Squad Inc., $1,000 (Fantasia Carroll); McLean County Arts Center, $2,500 (Clark Johnson); McLean County Dance Association, $1,000 (Terry Miller); Nomad Theater Company, $1,600 (Connie Blick, Christian Monson, William Clark); Normal West Bands (Normal High School), $1,000 (Kelly Halston Halstead); Penguin Project in McLean County, $2,000 (Lori Sleighthorn); Bryan Fire Theater, $600 (Bob Benjellardi); Prairie Bridal Coalition, $3,500 (David Betland); Seedling Theater, $2,500 (Donna Anhalt, Rick Anhalt); Share the Music, $1,000 (Joy Hippensteel); Sound of Illinois Bloomington, $2,000; Twin City Ballet, $2,000 (Jane Phillips, Jeanie Phillips); USA Ballet, $2,000 (Ken Belo); Crossroads Area Student Theater, $1,000 (Matthew Goodwin); and multiple Illinois State University events totaling $6,750.

Speakers thanked the mayor and council for the ongoing support; one presenter noted the Harmon Arts grants began in 1986 and that the town later renamed the program the Harmon Arts Grant Program after a mayor’s tenure. Presenters emphasized that local grants support hometown cultural offerings and help keep programs running when other places reduce support. The transcript records the awards being read aloud and the acknowledgement of the total spent; it does not record a separate formal council vote on each grant.