Today, Duke Energy announced its gift of $25,000 for the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County.
Arts Council Executive Director Rhonda Bellamy said the money will be used to bolster the Council’s grant programs.
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One of the core functions of the local Arts Council is to promote arts-driven economic development. And Duke Energy spokesman John Elliott says the country’s largest electric utility believes arts investment is important to the economic vitality of the region. He also says the arts act as a stimulus for jobs and local businesses.
The 25-thousand dollar gift from Duke will expand the Grassroots Arts Program and the Regional Artist Project grant – which gives financial support to selected artists in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Columbus Counties.
The application deadline for artists for the Regional grant is September 20th.