For immediate release, June 18, 2002

Contact Hal Howland, 305-295-4369

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is pleased to announce that state arts funding totaling $175,233 is on its way to Keys cultural organizations.

Nine Monroe County arts organizations recently received grants from the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, according to Monica Haskell, president and CEO of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. These grants will be used to further cultural programs throughout the Keys.

Organizations benefiting from these grants include Art Behind Bars, general support, $8,480; the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, program support, $30,505; Friends of the Key Largo Library, sponsoring Fantasy Theatre Factory, $250; Key West Players, cultural support, $5,895; the Key West Symphony Orchestra music education program, $22,605; the Marathon Community Theatre 2002-03 season, $3,690; the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, general support, $57,685; the Red Barn Theatre, general support, $26,573; and the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center Founders Society 2002-03 season, $19,550.

The arts council will use a part of these monies to support its Arts Access lunchtime concerts for senior citizens in Key West, Big Pine, Marathon, and Plantation Key; the Bahama Village Music Program; and a Marathon teen theater project.

[Photo caption:] Jazz violinist Nicole Yarling teaches improvisation at Key Largo Elementary and Middle Schools, sponsored by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts in partnership with the South Florida Cultural Consortium. Photo by Brownie Ballard.

###