Red Bank and Shrewsbury Arts Groups Receive MCAC Grants

Area arts organizations will receive a $90,000 boost from the Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC). The Red Bank-based nonprofit announced 29 recipients of its annual grants program.

Ten organizations in Red Bank and Shrewsbury, including Phoenix Productions and the Shrewsbury Chorale, among others, earned grants.

MCAC Community Arts Council Danny Tamez said the organization was impressed by the quality and focus of the applications received, awarding grants to each applicant.

“That hasn’t always been the case in the past. Fortunately, this year it was. They really did their due diligence in completing their application,” Tamez said.

The MCAC awarded money to special projects, such as the Latino Festival of Monmouth County and the Garden State Film Festival, and as general support for arts organizations, such as the Middletown Arts Council and the Guild of Creative Art.

“You can tell from the list it’s quite a broad group of organizations. It’s a really interesting mix,” Tamez said.

Organizations receiving grants include those in Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Belmar, Deal, Freehold, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keyport, Middletown, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, and Tinton Falls. Choral groups, dance companies, municipal arts centers and local theaters will be among those receiving funding from MCAC. (The full list of recipients is available below.)

Tamez said MCAC, a 40-year-old organization based in Red Bank, has focused its efforts on recent years in supporting areas of the county with emerging arts organizations or underserved populations like Western Monmouth and the Bayshore region. He highlighted the efforts of the Freehold Borough Arts Council and the , also in Freehold, with expanding the reach of the arts in Monmouth County.

“The Downtown Concert Series is a newer organization. This is their first time receiving a grant. They do a really wonderful job bringing in professional musicians,” Tamez said.

He noted area arts organizations, including the MCAC, haven’t been immune to the economic downtown. Most arts organizations in Monmouth County are dependent on the work of volunteers, especially during difficult economic times.

“We’ve very proud of our arts organizations doing the good work out there. A lot of them are volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to the arts,” Tamez said. “It’s been tight (financially) for all of us. We hope in the next few years to increase financing for the grants.”