Three Pike County arts supported organizations were awarded grants by the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) at its council meeting in Montgomery on December 7.

The Brundidge Historical Society received $3,600 for its 2019 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival, the Pioneer Museum of Alabama received $2,700 for Spring Plantin’ 2019 and the Troy University Foundation received $2,000 for the university’s Fine Arts Cultural Exchange. 

In this round of grants, ASCA awarded 156 grants totaling $517,860 that will support arts in education, folk art, community, literature, performing and visual arts programs January 1 though September 30, 2019.

Lawrence Bowden, BHS president, expressed appreciation to ASCA for its continuing support of the folk life programs the historical society presents throughout the year.

“In 2001, ASCA awarded our historical group a $2,500 grant for our folk life play, “Come Home, It’s Suppertime,’” he said. “With ASCA’s support and encouragement, we moved ahead with, what was, a very ambitious project. The play completed its 17th year in November. A few years, later in 2005, we received a grant that primed the pump, so to speak, for what is now our Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival that will celebrate its 13th year in 2019.

Bowden said without ASCA’s support, the BHS would not be able to expand its 2019 storytelling festival to include more school and public performances.

“ASCA has been a part of everything we do at the We Piddle Around Theater,” he said. “ASCA’s support makes it possible to have nationally and internationally acclaimed performers in our town of 2,000.  That’s how important ASCA’s support is to our community, our county and our state.”

Pioneer Museum of Alabama Director Barbara Tatom said, too, that she and the museum’s board of directors are extremely grateful to ASCA and the state legislators who make the grant funds available through the state’s educational trust fund.

“These funds are tremendous as far as helping us continue our mission which is dedicated to preserving and presenting our unique collection of historic buildings and artifacts,” Tatom said. “Grants like this help us fund special programs and projects that continue our mission of educating young people about their heritage through a better understanding of how our pioneers lived and worked and the challenges they faced.”

Tatom said Spring Plantin’ is held on the museum grounds with the cooperation of the Pike County Master Gardeners.

“Spring Plantin,’ a hands-on history event, continues our everyday mission of educating young people about their heritage,” Tatom said. “Their learning will continue through the seeds the students plant to take home, care for and watch grow into flowers or vegetables.”

Efforts to reach a spokesperson for Troy University’s Fine Arts Cultural Exchange on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts Council makes grants to non-profit organizations, schools, universities, cities, and a wide range of community groups. ASCA funds are matched by contributions from businesses, individuals, local government and earned income by the grantee. Arts programs, assisted by Council grants, have a track record of enhancing community development, education, cultural tourism and overall quality of life in virtually all regions of the state.