LUX Center for the Arts
$15,000 grant for the Artist-in-Residence program for 2017-2018
LUX Center for the Arts is a community arts center and a vital resource for the visual arts in Lincoln, Nebraska. The LUX offers year-round art classes for children, youth and adults in ceramics, painting, drawing, glass, mixed media and metals/jewelry. Classes are taught by professional artist/teachers in the Artist-in-Residence program. The program is nationally known and highly competitive, with over 30 artists applying for four spots.
The artists are provided studio and exhibition space, participate in First Friday gallery receptions, teach and work at the biannual Community Arts Afternoon events, and are paid instructors for most of the Lux’s classes and art education programs. They work at the Center and through the Art Van DeLUX program at schools and other facilities in Lincoln and elsewhere in Nebraska, as far as North Platte. They teach ceramics classes at Doane University, work with Lancaster and Sarpy counties youth services programs to provide a program called the “Artist Inside”, and Lincoln Public Schools after school programs.
“Artists-In-Residence come from all over the country, bring fresh artistic perspectives to our city and state, and provide invaluable service to the community through teaching, exhibiting art, and spreading a joy and love for the creative process.” – Joe Shaw, Associate Director
Meadowlark Music Festival
$10,000 grant for the Meadowlark Music Festival 2018 Season
The Meadowlark Music Festival, founded in 2001, has become an important component of the summer music scene, offering family friendly and affordable chamber music in a variety of venues. The Cooper Foundation was one of the Festival’s first funders and has been a continued supporter throughout the years. As Nebraska’s sole international summer chamber music festival, Meadowlark works to attract a varied and diverse audience to discover world-class musicians performing beautiful music. Children ages 16 and younger attend for free.
Meadowlark Musicians perform free at schools and cultural centers throughout the community. Their educational offerings extend to free demonstrations and master classes for elementary, secondary, and college students as well as free guest lectures for families.
“Meadowlark has been Nebraska’s premier international summer chamber music festival since 2001. Enhancing Lincoln’s quality of life, Meadowlark is known for bringing exceptional world-renowned artists to Lincoln and surrounding communities, who otherwise would never perform here.” – Hans Sturm, Executive Director
Nebraska Shakespeare, Omaha, Nebraska
$5,000 grant for the 2017 Shakespeare on Tour program
Nebraska Shakespeare’s touring program is professionally produced and managed and reaches a growing audience each year. In 2017, they presented performances and education activities to approximately 9,000 student’s grades 5-12, in over 45 schools and community venues throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. Collaboration with educators and administrators ensures that the performance and workshop offerings meet Nebraska Standards for education and work in tandem with the current in-classroom curriculum. Their programming unites the skills of theater artists and classroom educators to bring Shakespeare to life in the school curriculum.Cooper Foundation has supported this program over the years as it has grown to reach thousands of students across the state.
Nebraska Shakespeare serves over 40,000 individuals through their programming including Shakespeare on Tour, Shakespeare on the Green in Omaha’s Young park, scholar’s forums, fall performances, Camp Shakespeare for students ages 8-18, and a sonnet-writing contest for students and adults.