Madison Arts Council has awarded five Arts in Education grants. One grant will assist advertising for “In the Heights,” the spring musical at Bob Jones High School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison Arts Council (MAC) has awarded Arts in Education grants totaling $2,200 to five school groups.

“MAC believes the arts play an essential role in the creative development of young minds,” Liz Cuneo said. “With our Arts in Education grant program, we are able to assist local educators with monetary support for in-classroom projects and programs.”

Cuneo and Brenda Parker served on the MAC grant committee.

At James Clemens High School, band director Keith Anderson received a $500 grant to purchase a mobile piano or synthesizer, applicable to all facets of the band program. Jonathan Willis at St. John the Baptist Catholic School will use $500 for a keyboard, amps or tenor saxophone to establish a jazz band.

B. Dwayne Craft, drama teacher at Bob Jones High School, will replace outdated or dilapidated tools for scenery construction with $500. Also at Bob Jones, drama teacher Mary Davis will apply $300 toward posters, banners and flyers to publicize the spring musical, “In the Heights.”

Amy Williams at Horizon Elementary School requested $400 to purchase a digital publishing studio for students to write/illustrate digital/printed books.

Cuneo and Parker received grant applications from Oct. 1 through Nov. 14. All teachers within Madison’s city limits were encouraged to apply.

“We actually received nine grant applications, totaling $9,280.50. MAC would have loved to fund all requests, but we’re limited to what our budget would allow,” Cuneo said.

Past grant recipients have included Liberty Middle School art and drama departments and music programs at West Madison and Heritage elementary schools.

MAC also sponsors Madison Gazebo Concerts in summer, SPACES Sculpture Trail, Art 4 Paws in April and the Student Art Tent at Madison Street Festival in October. This year, MAC founded Christmas Card Lane.

Grant checks will be presented to recipients at the Madison City Council meeting on Jan. 12, 2015.

Founded in 2001, MAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that enriches the quality of life for Madison residents with dance, music, theatre and visual art. For information, visit artsmadison.org.