Claudia Mitchell Arts Fund Recipients

2023

Individuals

  • Kiaya Abernathy – Production of a Fall Songwriters Workshop
  • KC Bosch – Producing a three-day Writers Retreat
  • Maeve Ciuba – Portable harp to continue her study and practice at college
  • John Halberg – Three “crankie” performances at Estes Mill, featuring Katherine Fahey & local artists
  • Linda Heimstra – Design and painting of a 72 ft. community mural on the fence at the Rappahannock County Park
  • Peter Hornbostel – Creation of a Rappahannock Writers Journal
  • Kitty Keyser – Scholarships to her Waldorf summer camps at Trinity Church and Hearthstone School
  • Isaac Plaksin – A year of private trombone lessons
  • Reilly Talley – Professional recording of two of his bands’ songs
  • Daniel Webb – Three performances at Rappahannock Senior Center
  • Ruthie Windsor-Mann – Self-publication of her sketchbook “12 Acres in 12 Months”

Organizations

  • Belle Meade School – “Our Home Rappahannock” – an introduction to plein air painting for middle and high school students with Nora Harrington
  • Living Sky/Cherl Crews – Planning & production of Red Tent Sisterhood’s annual spring gathering, open to the community
  • Mountainside Dance Center – Dance scholarships for children
  • Rappahannock County High School – New light board for the Drama Department
  • Rappahannock County Library – Monthly free, hands-on art classes for seniors
  • Scrabble School Preservation Foundation – Performing artists and technical direction for MLK performance at Little Washington Theatre

2022

  • Mary Bartlett – Mask-making & set design for productions of Julie Portman’s last play
  • Maeve Ciuba – Weekly Celtic harp lessons with Allison Hampton & harp rental
  • Maureen Day – Metalsmithing equipment & classes
  • Daphne Hutchinson – Interviews & oral histories, anecdotes, family lore & legends from Sperryville for book entitled “In the Gateway Village”
  • Janet Kerig – Arts & crafts summer camp at CCLC
  • Kitty Keyser – Waldorf summer camp at Trinity Church
  • Roger Piantadosi – Creation & production of original music & a video inspired by the natural beauty of Rappahannock

Organizations

  • 1000 Faces/Peg Schadler – Creation and performance of Peggy Schadler’s new play “Marco Polo Travels The Electronic Super Highway,” in September at Pen Druid, plus video
  • Belle Meade School – Staging of a musical for spring 2023
  • Child Care Learning Center (CCLC) – Six visiting artists programs during 2022 summer and 2022-23 school year
  • Headwaters – Summer Choral program for middle and high school students, including community performance
  • Living Sky/Cherl Crews – Planning & production of Red Tent Sisterhood’s annual spring gathering
  • Mountainside Dance – Scholarships for children & adults
  • Rappahannock Radio/Kiaya Abernathy – Operational expenses
  • Rapp Nature Camp – Preduction of booklet of original songs and artwork as a tribute to retiring founder Lyt Wood
  • Scrabble School Preservation Fund – Performing 

2021

Individuals

  • Colby Allred — Creation of large-scale ceramic sculpture series “Rural Monoliths” inspired by rural agricultural communities
  • Kiaya Abernathy — Rappahannock Radio production of 12 new interviews with local artists and personalities
  • Maeve Ciuba — Continued study of Celtic harp with Allison Hampton
  • Lorraine Duisit — CD production of original songs that includes local artists and musicians
  • Jason Goldman  — Three pieces of equipment for his woodworking studio to facilitate his own work, plus teaching others
  • Linda Heimstra — Equipment for recording and producing an album of original & public domain jazz songs written and/or arranged by Linda & members of “The Nethers Hot Club”
  • Elena Kazmier — Creation of a series of “buon fresco” panels entitled “Rappahannock Renaissance” for her new Flint Hill studio & gallery
  • Janet Kerig — Summer arts & crafts camp at CCLC
  • Lisa Leftwich — Jazz piano lessons with Bill Harris

Organizations

  • 1000 Faces Mask Theater — Production & video of new original masked theater piece, “Axis Mundi Travelling Medicine Show”.  Fall performance at Pen Druid.
  • Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC) — Visiting artists from summer 2021 through next school year bringing music, movement, drawing, puppeteering, storytelling and bubbles to CCLC children
  • Headwaters Foundation — Two-week Summer Chorus Program for Rappahannock middle and high school age kids
  • Living Sky Foundation — Development of a new website for Sperryville ARTists Cooperative
  • Mountainside Dance Center — Student scholarships for children & adults and support for MDC’s dance studio expansion

2020

Individuals

  • Kiaya Abernathy/RappRadio—Production of 12 monthly shows featuring the local artistic community
  • KC Bosch—Production of 4th annual 3-day writers’ workshop at Bookworks in Flint Hill
  • Maeve Ciuba—Harp lessons with Allison Hampton, plus rental of a harp
  • Lilie Halko—Voice, piano & ukulele lessons with Linda Heimstra, plus purchase of a beginner’s keyboard
  • Clayton Pearson—Woodworking equipment to create a variety of artisan products
  • Cheryl Toth—Materials and workshops for creating figurative textile sculptures

Organizations

  • 1000 Faces Mask Theater—production of new mask performance piece entitled  “An Unexpected Turn of Events” at Castleton Farm
  • Belle Meade Montessori School—Script rights for production of Belle Meade’s spring musical “Mary Poppins”
  • Child Care & Learning Center—Multi-part arts programming for summer and school-year includes performances, puppetry, storytelling, music and singing
  • Janet Kerig’s Arts & Crafts Camp—Scholarships and art supplies for summer 2020 camp
  • John Jackson Piedmont Blues Festival—Production of 2nd annual event at Eldon Farm celebrating musical & cultural heritage of the county
  • Kid Pan Alley—Virtual home concert series featuring Rappahannock musicians
  • Mountainside Dance Center—Dance scholarships for children & adults to study ballet and movement
  • Rappahannock County High School—Workshop for RCHS English students with visiting Cambridge (England) University Acting Troupe and attendance at CAST’s Shakespeare production at the Theatre at Little Washington
  • Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities Authority—projector, sound equipment & screen, plus rental for free movie series Family Flicks in the Park

2019

Individuals

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

Organizations

  • Appalachian Dulcimer Museumsound system in the new performance space at Estes Mill
  • Belle Meade Montessori Schoolstudent design project, “Open a Door to Rappahannock County”
  • Child Care & Learning Centermulti-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 Chorussummer youth chorus program, with new additions this year of younger students’ group & adult participation
  • Janet Kerig’s Arts & Crafts Camp at Hearthstone Schoolscholarships and art supplies
  • Kid Pan Alleysongwriting residency-workshops at Hearthstone and Rappahannock Elementary Schools during the 2019-20 school year
  • Living Sky Foundationsupport of Rappahannock Red Tent Sisterhood’s two-day Red Tent Festival on March 21-22
  • Mountainside Dance Centerscholarships 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 Orchestramusic mentoring program with band students at RCHS & RCES during the 2019-20 school year
  • Rappahannock County Elementary Schoolpurchase & installation of a kiln for K-9 art classes
  • Rappahannock Piedmont Blues Festivalsupport to the inaugural music and cultural festival honoring Woodville-born Piedmont blues guitarist John Jackson at Eldon Farm on September 28
  • 1000 Faces Mask Theaterproduction 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

  • Child Care & Learning Center (CCLC)— Multi-arts programming for preschool children during the school year and elementary kids in the summer
  • Headwaters— Two-week intensive Summer Chorus for Rappahannock middle and high school students
  • Hearthstone School— Productions of an original play “The Flood of Kindness”, including community dialogues on disaster preparedness
  • Living Sky— Arts programming at seasonal community festivals hosted by Rappahannock Red Tent Sisterhood
  • Mountainside Dance Center— Scholarships for young & adult dance students, plus a showcase with visiting children’s dance company, Hope Garden Ballet Academy
  • Piedmont Symphony Orchestra— Music Mentoring program with the Rappahannock County High School Band during the 2018-19 school year
  • Stone Hill Theatrical Foundation— Support of John Henry’s new play “Good Guys & Bad Guys” at Stone Hill 
  • 1000 Faces Mask Theater— Performance and production of Peggy Schadler’s new piece “Lucid Dreaming” at Castleton Farms

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

Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community
PO Box 24
Washington, VA 22747

info@raac.org
800-695-6075

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