County Gives $200K in Grants to Support Arts and Cultural Programs

CREST HAVEN — Freeholder Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. and the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented 32 non-profit arts, history and cultural groups with “Big” checks representing their share in the county’s $200,000 Cultural Grant Program at the Freeholder Meeting on June 24.
New award winners this year include the Cape May County Civil War Round Table and the Greater Cape May Historical Society.
“I am extremely happy that county government was able to provide this funding to such an essential component of Cape May County. Not only is the support of art, history, and culture important to every community and county, it is especially vital in strengthening the tourism market of our county. The host of organizations committed to expressing art, history and culture play a significant role in helping our county keep an edge in the highly competitive tourism industry,” Bakley said.
As liaison to the County Culture and Heritage Commission, Bakley steered a three-member committee in determining the allocation of the appropriated funds. Organizations received from $500 to $10,000 with application requests totaling $267,221.93. County Administrator Stephen O’Connor and Culture and Heritage Commissioner Dr. Janice Lake Betts also served on the committee.
The groups, their awards, and their proposals include:
Access to Art, Inc., $8,000 to present summer music festival; American Legion Post 331, Stone Harbor, $8,000 to paint historical murals for the boat room of the 1895 Stone Harbor Life Saving Station, which is now the Legion Post; Avalon Museum, $4,000 to purchase museum-quality display cases; Avalon Performing Arts Council, $3,745 to improve quality of summer programs for children and families; Cape Harmonaires Barbershop Chorus, $2,000 to purchase sheet music and produce learning tapes for Chorus members.
Cape May County Civil War Round Table, $500 to present costumed-speakers program to other history groups in the County, and hire outside speakers for Civil War Round Table’s monthly public meetings in Middle Township; Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society (County Museum), $5,205 to repair 1780s barn roof and doors, install ADA-compliant ramps, build 18th – Century kitchen garden, and continue restoring and conserving sampler collection; Cape May New Jersey State Film Festival, Inc., $8,000 to present summer film camp, expand education system programming, produce County oral history documentary which includes Black History and Women’s History; Cape May Stage, $8,000 for theater arts education outreach programs for Cape May, Wildwood and Woodbine elementary and middle schools.
Cape Shore Chorus – Sweet Adelines International, $6,400 to buy new sound system and hire summer intern; Center for Community Arts, $5,550 to present “Art at the Library” program in Cape May, Villas, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine branches of the County Library; Compassionate Heart Productions, $6,000 to present education arts program, “The Peacemakers” for Flute and Student Orchestra, at Ocean City Middle and High Schools.
Doo Wop Preservation League, $7,000 to install electronic I-wall display at Doo Wop Museum at the Wildwoods Convention Center; East Lynne Theater Company, $8,000 for general operating support; First Night Ocean City, $5,000 to hire entertainers for alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts; Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Veterans Museum, $6,000 to print brochures, finish building interior, and complete the memorial to the 21 Cape May County residents who died in the Vietnam War.
Friends of Historic Cold Spring Village, $9,000 to hire local actors to perform historic Cape May County scenarios, also provide narrated, horse-drawn-wagon tours of the Village; Friends of the Ocean City Pops, $8,000 to present music education outreach programs, led by Pops Orchestra ensembles, in Cape May County Schools; Greater Cape May Historical Society, $2,000 to provide public programs, hire intern to catalog materials; John Walter Cape Community Band, $2,500 to buy 10 new music scores as well as some percussion auxiliary instruments; Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, $8,000 to provide music education outreach to Cape May County teachers and students; Naval Air Station Wildwood, $10,000 to upgrade two fire exits.
Ocean City Arts Center, $8,000 for general operating support; Ocean City Fine Arts League, $6,000 for general operating support; Ocean City Historical Museum, $7,500 to produce and distribute brochure, expand advertising; Ocean City Rowing and Athletic Association (Ocean City Lifesaving Museum), $4,000 to buy archival equipment; Peacemakers, $9,000 to present American Ragtime and folk music education program in Cape May County Schools; Puerto Rican Action Committee, $10,000 to present Latino Arts education programs for Cape May County students ages 6-21.
Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage, $7,500 to host Smithsonian Institute exhibit presented by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, “Key Ingredients: America By Food,” July 19-August 31 at Woodbine Public Library, and present related programs; Stone Harbor Museum, $7,000 to design of displays for Museum’s future home, the planned Stone Harbor Branch of the County Library; Turtlesinger, Inc., $7,000 to present musical, interactive, environmental education programs in Cape May County Schools; and Wildwood Historical Society, $3,100 to buy new computer, monitor, and printer.
Freeholder Bakley concluded, “The Board is excited about the programs and special events this money will allow this diverse group of organizations to provide to the residents and visitors to Cape May County.