Majority Lackawanna County Commissioners Michael J. Washo and Corey D. O’Brien, in cooperation with Minority Commissioner A.J. Munchak, today announced 29 county arts and culture grants totaling $101,675 at a ceremony in the Scranton Cultural Center’s Shopland Hall.

“A community is really rendered unique by the artistic talent it supports,” Mr. Washo said. “That’s why we’re so proud to encourage local artists through this grant program.”

“We are currently evaluating our arts and culture commitments, and we plan to announce new programs in the coming months that will further showcase our local talent to the larger community,” Mr. O’Brien said.

“I’m happy that the majority commissioners are continuing the arts and culture grant program,” Mr. Munchak said.

The county’s arts and culture grants are funded through a dedicated 1 mill education and culture fee. Grant recipients were selected by a panel of arts community experts. This year’s grants are awarded to the following organizations and projects:

• The Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic - $7,000
• Broadway Theatre League - $7,000
• Scranton Community Concerts - $6,000
• Ballet Theatre of Scranton - $6,000
• The Northeast Theatre - $5,000
• Actor’s Circle - $5,000
• Scranton Public Theatre - $5,000
• The Afa Gallery - $5,000
• Musician’s Federation - $3,000
• Mondays in Moscow – $3,000
• Robert Dale Choral - $3,000
• Catholic Choral Society - $3,000
• Lyric Consort - $3,000
• The Choral Society of NEPA - $3,000
• The Classical Guitar Society - $3,000 to provide two world renowned Classical Guitarists at Marywood University
• The Century Club - $2,300 for a series of lectures on great artists and periods of rt history
• The Scranton Jazz Festival - $3,000 for a jazz festival in August at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel
• The Abington Business & Professional Association - $3,000 for an Ice Festival in Clarks Summit
• The Olde Brick Theatre - $3,000 for a series of playwrighting and acting workshops
• Lexington Entertainment - $3,000 for six educational concerts within Lackawanna County
• Sally Wiener Grotta - $2,000 for an exhibit of portraiture people in book publishing in partnership with the Abington Library
• United Neighborhood Centers - $3,000 to run an inner-city music program in partnership with Diversified for youth 7- 12 in Lackawanna County
• Lackawanna Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society - $2, 200 to design and paint a mural at The Moscow Railway Station
• The Community Film Project - $1,975 to produce and promote a series of digital films to be shown at Endless Mountains Theatre
• First Friday - $3,000 for monthly gallery openings in Scranton
• Kenneth Gordon - $1, 520 to conduct year long playwrighting workshops
• PocoNotes - $3,000 for a series of music storytelling events at the Waverly Community House.
• John Bromberg - $2,000 for a collaborative art exhibit with the Lackawanna Historical Society and the Bread and Puppet Theatre at Marywood University
• Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania - $1,680 for a six-week theater workshop with girls from United Neighborhood Centers