Recipients

2019

Individuals

•  Lillian Aylor—final production & distribution of her memoir My Rappahannock Journey: The Life of Lillian Freeman Aylor
• Lorraine Duisit—recording & production of an album of original songs, in partnership with bandmate Smiggy Smith
• Sue Davis Gabbay—production of a book of original poems focused on her new life in Rappahannock, with illustrations by Kerrie Gabbay Mullany
• Clayton Pearson—woodworking equipment for young emerging artisan working in deer horn and wood

Organizations

• Appalachian Dulcimer Museum—sound system in the new performance space at Estes Mill
• Belle Meade Montessori School—student design project, “Open a Door to Rappahannock County”
• Child Care & Learning Center—multi-part arts programming for 2019-20 school year including puppet residency, performance, music & movement classes for pre-school children and summer camp for school-age children
• Headwaters Summer Chorus—summer youth chorus program, with new additions this year of younger students’ group & adult participation
• Janet Kerig’s Arts & Crafts Camp at Hearthstone School—scholarships and art supplies
• Kid Pan Alley—songwriting residency-workshops at Hearthstone and Rappahannock Elementary Schools during the 2019-20 school year
• Living Sky Foundation—support of Rappahannock Red Tent Sisterhood’s two-day Red Tent Festival on March 21-22
• Mountainside Dance Center—scholarships for young & adult dance students, plus a collaborative dance showcase in February 2020 with visiting children’s dance company, Hope Garden Ballet Academy
• Piedmont Symphony Orchestra—music mentoring program with band students at RCHS & RCES during the 2019-20 school year
• Rappahannock County Elementary School—purchase & installation of a kiln for K-9 art classes
• Rappahannock Piedmont Blues Festival—support to the inaugural music and cultural festival honoring Woodville-born Piedmont blues guitarist John Jackson at Eldon Farm on September 28
• 1000 Faces Mask Theater—production of Peggy Schadler’s new mask performance piece “Another Crack in the Cosmic Egg” on September 28 at Castleton Farm

2018

Individuals

• Lillian Aylor— Editing and preparation of her book My Rappahannock Journey: The Life of Lillian Freeman Aylor
• Kevin Bosch— Producing the Rappahannock Writers Retreat, a 3-day workshop for local writers at Bookworks Studio in Flint Hill 
• Joyce Harman— Expanding her RLEP-collaborative “Dark Skies” photography project into Shenandoah National Park and surrounding counties
• Barbara Heile— Teaching twice-monthly “spontaneous painting” classes to seniors at the Rappahannock Senior Center
• Janet Kerig’s Arts & Crafts Camp— Scholarships & art supplies for kids at her multimedia summer camp at Hearthstone School
• Virginia Pates— Building materials for a new pottery studio and several community pottery workshops
• James Reston, Jr.— Production of his new play “Luther’s Fortress” at Stone Hill 
• Shinola Creek— Recording and production of a CD of original songs by local musicians from the Shinola Creek collective

Organizations

2017

Individuals

• Kevin Adams— A public drawing and painting program as part of his summer artist’s residency at Shenandoah National Park
• Janet Kerig— Scholarships for Summer Arts & Crafts Multimedia Camp at Hearthstone School
• Ann Baumgardner— Continuing instruction in watercolor painting  and creation of a series featuring Rappahannock County buildings and scenes
• Veronika Benson— To explore, investigate and research the history of Portland and Albuquerque for her novel
• Kevin Bosch— Producing a Rappahannock Writing Retreat, a 3-day workshop for local writers at Bookworks Studio in Flint Hill
• Patti Brennan— Creating a body of stained glass work focused on Rappahannock to be exhibited at Gay Street Gallery
• Barbara Heile— Teaching twice-monthly “spontaneous painting” classes to seniors at the Rappahannock Senior Center
• Sheila Lamb— 2-week summer writer’s residency at Porches Writing Retreat in Nelson County, Virginia to finish her novel begun in 2015
• Wil Sands— Photojournalism project exploring the historical, cultural and economic dynamics of life in rural America, focused on Rappahannock County
• Wendi Sirat— A series of 3 intergenerational community drum circles at the RAAC Theater

Organizations

• 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Creating a new performance piece and public performance at Castleton
• Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC) — Multi-arts programming including visiting artist residencies, theater camp instructor, music curriculum and teacher training, and “sound wall” for musical exploration
• Goodlife Theater— Creating a new educational puppet production to be performed in cooperation with CCLC and Rappahannock Elementary School
• Kid Pan Alley— 3-day songwriting and singing workshops for adults and high school students, plus a public performance featuring Paul Reisler, Ysaye Barnwell & Three Good Reasons
• Mountainside Dance Center— Scholarships for young dancers plus showcase by visiting children’s dance company, Hope Garden Ballet Academy
• Rappahannock High School Band Boosters— Scholarships for individual instrumental music instruction, plus masterclasses by instructors
• Stone Hill Theatrical Foundation— Support of citizen theater and theatrical productions in Rappahannock Country

2016

Individuals

• Janet Kerig— Scholarships for Summer Arts & Crafts Camp at Hearthstone School
• Kevin Bosch— Producing Rappahannock Writing Retreat, a 3-day workshop for local writers
• Maeve Ciuba— Scholarship to attend Allegro Broadway Summer Camp
• Joyce Harman— Photographing Night Skies in Rappahannock, developing a basic website and teaching in partnership with RLEP’s Dark Skies Initiative
• Barbara Heile— Teaching “Spontaneous Painting” classes to seniors at the Rappahannock Senior Center
• Linda Heimstra— Studying oil portrait painting and initiating a portrait series of county notables
• Donna LaPre— Improvements to her fiber arts studio
• Roger Piantadosi— Documenting Rappahannock artists’ connection to nature through written profiles and videos
• Wendi Sirat— Series of 3 Community Drum Circles at the RAAC Theater

Organizations

• 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Production assistance with their October public performance
• Belle Meade School— Production assistance for school’s Spring 2017 Musical
• Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC)— Weekly music program for pre-schoolers with songbooks & instruments; Visiting artist residency
• Flourish Root Florals— Series of Children’s Workshops in floral arts & photography and public exhibit
• Goodlife Theater— Creating & developing an Original Puppet Show, “Berry Tales”, including audience blueberry picking for the Food Pantry
• Headwaters— Creating a Choir for middle school and high school age students in Rappahannock County Public Schools
• Kid Pan Alley— Song-writing Residencies in 8 local schools, inspired by visits to Shenandoah National Park, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service
• Mountainside Dance Center— Scholarships for young dancers
• Stone Hill Theatrical Foundation— Support for theatrical productions during their inaugural year as a non-profit

2015

Individuals

• KC Bosch— Producing art books combining his photography and poetry
• Sheila Lamb— Summer writer’s residency at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
• Lisa Leftwich— Vocal training at Augusta Heritage Center
• Forrest Marquisee— Song-writing lessons with Paul Reisler
• Kerrie Mullany & Darien Reece— Project with local students to create a mural for RappCats
• Clive Pates— Creating new paintings focused on Rappahannock County & the Piedmont
• Virginia Pates— Kiln to work with local clays & minerals
• Michael Pollack— Professional production of a CD of the music of Kiaya Abernathy
• Wendi Sirat— Series of Community Drum Circles at the RAAC Theater

Organizations

• 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Production assistance with their public performance at Stone Hill
• Castleton Festival— Summer programs with Rappahannock students
• Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC)— Children’s music, writing and theater programs
• Headwaters— Grades 2-7 mosaic project at Rappahannock County Elementary School, with field trips to DC
• Hearthstone School— Community art gallery for student and adult work
• Mountainside Dance Center— Dance scholarships for young students
• Rappahannock 4H— Summer film-making workshop and school-year film club
• Rappahannock County High School Band Boosters— Student scholarships for instrumental & vocal lessons, plus assistance to band director in studio/masterclasses
• Paul Reisler/Kid Pan Alley— Script editing and production assistance in developing a Kid Pan Alley musical “Bouncin’”

2014

Individuals

• Pete Pazmino— Support to complete his novel at a month-long writing residency at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Amherst VA
• Darien Reece— Soapstone carving class at Art League School in Alexandria VA

Organizations

• Castleton Festival— Participation of 100 Rappahannock students in “Castleton Alive” program as part of Castleton Festival
• Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC)— Weekly music program for pre-schoolers with guest artist Forrest Marquisee;Theater Arts Camp for elementary school age children
• Headwaters Foundation— Mosaic project at Rappahannock County Elementary School, including a field trip to the National Gallery in Washington, DC
• Kid Pan Alley— Intergenerational songwriting residency at Rappahannock County Elementary School and Hearthstone School
• Mandalele— Public performance at Rappahannock Senior Center
• Middle Street Gallery— Workshop series taught by member artists and development of an intern/docent program with Rappahannock County High School
• Mountainside Dance Center— Scholarships for four underserved youth dance students
• 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Public performance of masks, dancers, actors, and musicians at Stone Hill in Flint Hill, including videotaping

2013

Individuals

• Nicole Espinola— Art supplies to establish her Rappahannock studio
• Sarah Grenzebach— Drawing class and lessons
• Forrest Marquisee— Production of a video series featuring local musicians
• Sam Mullany— Film-making workshop

Organizations

• Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC)— Pre-school music program and school-age theater program
• Headwaters— Mosaic project at Rappahannock Elementary School
• Kid Pan Alley— Character development assembly at Rappahannock Elementary School
• Mandalele— Performance at Rapphannock Seniors Center
• The Studio School— Teen studio arts program
• 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Public performance of masks, dancers, actors and musicians