Dakota County Groups Get Grants for Arts Initiatives

Several Dakota County organizations have received grant funding from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council to execute various programs and intiatives in the coming year.

They include the Cultural Society of Filipino-Americans Inc., which will present a music and dance production in September at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, as well as the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, which will run a visual arts program for a select group of inmates.

The Dakota County awards given in the second round of grants are as follows, according to an MRAC press release:

• Allegro Choral Academy—$9,050—Funding for the 2012 Allegro Choral Academy Bel Canto and Prima Voce programs of vocal music instruction to students in grades 2 to 8 along with two performance opportunities. Activities will take place between September 2012 and May 2013.

• Cultural Society of Filipino-Americans Inc.—$7,500—Funding for Pamana IX, a two-hour music and dance production celebrating the Filipino culture. The performance will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in September 2012.

•  Dakota Center for the Arts—$10,000—Funding for the 19th annual Eagan Art Festival, a free two-day outdoor festival featuring a broad range of entertainment and arts activities for all ages. The festival will take place at the Eagan Community Center in June 2013.

•  Dakota County Sheriff's Office—$5,344—Funding for The Choices Project, a co-facilitated visual arts program for up to 12 inmates at the Dakota County Jail. The project will take place between January and April 2013 and culminate in the creation of graphic novels.

• River Valley Band—$3,900—Funding for six free band concerts featuring a variety of music in traditional, contemporary and popular styles. The concerts will take place in Hastings and surrounding areas between September 2012 and August 2013.