2015-274-E Arts - SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals Arts Grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID: EOF5DO34-4BD2-4108-A49B-B7DF76BF3EBB SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals Grant Application May 21, 2015 Orange County Arts Commission Application Narrative Page 2 drifting into the kitchen. You migrate to the Great Room, where for about an hour, you can let go of your cares and sink into the sounds of a musical performance. Or perhaps an Andy Griffith impersonator, or a tap dance ensemble is there to lighten the mood. Though some performers choose to donate their time and talents, we are grateful to be able to support local artists with a small stipend thanks to support from the Orange County Arts Commission and its matching program. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy quality music and performances, and provides a meaningful opportunity for local artists to give back and serve their community. Proposed Uses of Grant Funds Our Music & Arts Program, now in its sixth year, continues to thrive. We seek to offer one or two nights of entertainment a week, though that may vary based on available funding. Acts are asked to start at 7:00 p.m., and to perform for about an hour. We have a piano on site and two music stands, but otherwise artists bring their own equipment as needed. The vast majority of our artists are local—from Orange County or surrounding environs. They represent a diverse range of genres jazz, folk, pop, a capella, guitar, ensembles, soloists, quartets and even a magician and tap dancing troupe. In the last year or two, we have become an attractive option for a small handful of high school and UNC Music students requesting to perform as an opportunity to practice live performance. The audience can range from just a couple of guests to a room filled with 20 or more guests—family members, patients and caregivers staying at the House. Our guests, who are the audience for this program, are largely from North Carolina. We do not track demographic characteristics of our guests, but they represent a diverse range of ages, illnesses, incomes, ethnicities and more. They reflect the population of NC, and they all share in common that they are facing the illness of a loved one. In a survey we issue to all House guests when they leave, we ask what they thought of the program. Of those who took advantage of the Music & Art performances in 2014, 91% gave them top ratings ("Great") with the remaining 9% marking them as "Good." We pay groups $100 per appearance and individuals $50 for up to two shows per calendar year. Some groups will donate their services free of charge, or will play for free after receiving two honoraria per year. In 2014, we offered 69 performances with $4,000 in funding. Of those, 45 were funded (65%). We funded an additional 2 performances in January using the remaining $100 in OC Arts Funding, as shown in the accompanying spreadsheet of performances. We request from the Orange County Arts Commission a grant of$1,500 to fund artist stipends. The matching funds for this grant have already been secured this year from The Chapel Hill Service League, and so we ask the Orange County Arts Commission to help ensure that we will be able to continue to offer this important program with a robust schedule through the end of 2015 with your essential support.