The Cultural Arts Grant Committee of the Town of Clayton announced the recipients of this year’s Cultural Arts Grants. In total, $25,000 was awarded to six local arts agencies.

The Clayton Youth Theatre was awarded a $10,000 grant to support its annual programming, which includes productions in the spring and summer.

Clayton Visual Arts was awarded $7,500 for its annual programming, which includes the monthly rotating art exhibit at the Clayton Center, which this month features winners from the recent Clayton Art Faire competition. The group also supports the Millstock Music Festival, the Art Walk and other arts projects.

The Clayton High School Band Boosters was awarded $2,500 for its annual Band Classic, which attracts bands from around the region to Clayton and brings in master teachers to work with the students. The event attracts thousands of spectators to Clayton every year.

The Johnston County Arts Council was awarded $2,225 to help with the development of an Arts-in-Healthcare program that would bring the work of various artists and art disciplines to the waiting room of the newly opened Johnston Medical Center-Clayton.

The Johnston County Chorale was awarded $2,000 for its Singing Valentines program, which provides an uplifting service to those in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and its annual Spring Show.

The Clayton Historical Association was awarded $775 for its ongoing programming.

“Each of these organizations is very deserving of the town's financial assistance,” Mayor Jody McLeod, a committee member, said. “The tight economy forced us to scale back a little this year, but it's very important that we continue to support the arts as much as we can.”

The town awarded grants totaling $27,500 last year.

Clayton Center Executive Director Heidi Stump, also a committee member, said the town’s new method of distributing grants funds, which began two years ago with $16,500 in grants, is "continuing to help facilitate the creativity we all love to see."

The Committee, which also includes Cultural Arts Foundation President Lyn Austin and Jim Elmore, a local teacher and musician, considered several factors in its evaluation process, including:

•,Community support and benefit

• Leadership and creativity

• Demonstrable expertise and resources

• Location and potential audiences

• Compatibility with Town goals and programs

Clayton has long supported the arts through special allocation funding, but decided to establish the Grant Committee in an effort to insure an efficient and effective division of its grant money. The Town wanted to strengthen its support of arts organizations and cultural programs, while also promoting diversity and encouraging creativity.

For more information, please contact Stump at 553-3152.