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How did you hear <br />about our grant <br />program? <br />Other <br />Did you attend or <br />watch the Artist <br />Project Grant <br />Training Session? <br />Yes <br />PROJECT/PROGRAM <br />INFORMATION <br />Tell us about your project or program <br />Title of Grant Project Story Connection: free live storytelling classes and performances <br />Grant Amount <br />Requested <br />3,000 <br />Project Start Date <br />(no earlier than July <br />1, 2025) <br />January 2026 <br />Project End Date (no <br />later than June 30, <br />2026) <br />April 2026 <br />Project/Program <br />Summary <br />For the last two years, OCAC Artist Project Grants generously funded the <br />launch and growth of Story Connection, a live storytelling series whose <br />mission is to help people find their unique voice and create community. <br />These grants have supported two free storytelling classes centering <br />underrepresented voices, as well as marketing, supplies, and audio <br />recording, editing, and distribution. <br />This application seeks to build this series further by repeating the free <br />class for underrepresented voices (spring 2026) and adding a new free <br />class at the Seymour Center that centers the voices of our elders (winter <br />2026). Classes run for 6 weeks (12 hours of instruction) and end with a <br />final performance students are invited, though not required, to participate <br />in. If awarded, grant funding will support artist instructional hours and some <br />of the cost of marketing materials, supplies, and audio recording and <br />production. <br />Additional costs, including theater rental, will be covered by donation-based <br />ticket sales (which raised $1,500 last year; free admission is always <br />available), fundraising from individuals and businesses, and personal funds. <br />I have been teaching in Orange County for 12 years and my client base <br />includes many individuals who have the resources and desire to support <br />community arts. Fundraising will continue to be a part of the Story <br />Connection experience, reminding our community their contributions are <br />essential to sustaining arts offerings. <br />As Story Connection grows, it feels crucial to specifically invite the voices <br />of our elders, which have not been greatly represented to date. I started <br />my teaching career facilitating a group called W rite Your Life Story at the <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 48EE4C0A-782B-4356-9910-53E4A5C88C34