ArtsLink, the arts council for Wetzel and Tyler counties, supports the arts locally through mini-grants available to artists and arts groups.

Recently, ArtsLink provided mini grants in the amount of $500 each to the Thespian Troupes at Magnolia and Paden City High Schools. These funds will be used to support their trip to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. Cassi Smith and Ryan Horn will represent Magnolia High School while Isaac Price and Levi Goddard represent Paden City High School. Isaac is a junior at Paden City High School and is the son of Brian and Debra Price. He is a member of the theater troupe at PCHS as well as the marching band, jazz band, and concert band. This past year he participated in the All-State Band playing the French horn. Isaac loves music and hopes to study music education at WVU next year. Levi Goddard is the son of Brian and Lisa Goddard. He is actively involved in Thespian Troupe #4892, National Honor Society, the PCHS band, and Cat's Club. Levi was the field commander of the Wildcat Marching Band for the 2016-2017 marching season. He is the president of the National Honor Society and the co-president of the Cat's Club. Levi is a Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar (HOBY) ambassador and was recently selected to attend the WV Governor's Honors Academy and WV Boy's State this summer.

Awards have also been given to the Wetzel County Museum, Sean Maxwell, the Academy for Dance & Theatre Arts, the Lincoln Theater, West Virginia Northern Community College, and the New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Commission.

Prospective applicants are sent a mini-grant application, usually following a discussion of the program with the administrative coordinator. They are invited to ask further questions as necessary. The applicant sends the original application and five copies back to ArtsLink. The application will be considered at the next meeting of ArtsLink’s board of directors.The maximum amount that ArtsLink will award for a mini-grant is $500 and a 25% cash match is required. Funds are limited and grants are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Individual artists and organizations are eligible to apply. The applicant should be able to show that the project will promote the arts in the Wetzel and Tyler area. Projects that invite and promote cultural diversity are encouraged.

“We are pleased to be able to support artists and arts activities locally,” said Miranda Rogers, ArtsLink president. “Our ability to do this is a result of the donations we receive from local individuals and businesses. The more donations we receive, the better we are able to serve the community.”

Grant opportunities are available to theatrical and arts-related community programming, which can include school-sponsored activities that promote the arts.

Funding for the ArtsLink mini-grant program is made possible with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. For more information on this or any of ArtsLink’s activities, please call 304-455-2278.