The Board of United Arts of Central Florida recently announced its Operating Support Grants for 2018 to 37 Central Florida nonprofit cultural institutions, including an award of $27,400 to the Orange County Regional History Center.
The award helps the History Center fulfill its educational mission, said Michael Perkins, the museum’s manager. “The general operating-support funds from this grant will allow us to deliver educational programs to thousands of Title 1 school children, allowing us to bring history alive to many who otherwise would not have the opportunity to visit the museum,” Perkins said.
Title 1 is the nation’s oldest and largest federally funded program, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Annually, the program supports schools with a high percentage of students at risk of failure and living at or near poverty.
In allocating a total of $1.48 million in Operating Support Grants, the Board of United Arts approved the recommendations of three grant panels composed of 34 volunteer reviewers. The grant review process is highly competitive and is based on an evaluation system covering the criteria of Artistic Merit (40 percent), Management & Fiscal Responsibility (35 percent), and Education & Outreach (25 percent).
“It is critical to the mission of United Arts to provide this essential support for cultural organizations,” said Kate Wilson, who chairs the board at United Arts. “These funds are unrestricted and support the organizations’ programs throughout the year.”
The History Center’s Education Department offers a variety of field trips and programs for schools, tailored to best fit curriculum needs. Tours focus on content areas such as Native Americans, pioneers, and archaeology, as well as a highlight tour that covers 12,000 years of Florida history. For more information, visit the Education section of our website,http://www.thehistorycenter. org/education/.
The Orange County Regional History Center, housed in a historic courthouse at 65 E. Central Blvd. in downtown Orlando, features four floors of permanent and limited-run exhibitions. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Orange County Regional History Center is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Family Services Department under Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and the Board of County Commissioners.
The Historical Society of Central Florida Inc. is supported by United Arts of Central Florida and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
