CARBONDALE - Carbondale Community Arts (CCA) announced the awarding of 11 grants in seven Southern Illinois Counties. The Southern Arts Fund is a re-granting program of the Illinois Arts Council through the Illinois Arts Council's Community Arts Access Program.

Eligible applicants to the fund include cultural arts groups, community music groups, theater groups, dance collectives, film/video and literary groups, artist collectives, libraries, public and private schools and other community cultural providers.

Carrier Mills-Stonefort Schools, Daryl Varble, "Oz." $1000. Performances by Carrier Mills-Stonefort School students at Southeastern Illinois Community College Theater on March 13 and 14, 2009.

Douglass School Art Place, Murphysboro, Jan Thomas and Cameron Smith, "Sand into Glass: Arts Education for All." $1000.00. A series of glassblowing demonstrations and tours of the facility for students and local community groups during the 2008-2009 academic year.

Grace United Methodist Church Handbell Choir, Carbondale, Anne Forby, "Southern Illinois Handbell Workshop and Concert." $1000.00. One day workshop in March 2009 for English handbell ringers and a concert for the general public.

Meridian School District, Robert A. Ketchens, "Clocking with the Masters." $1000.00. Instruction of students about art history and producing their own work of art (a clock) based on the master of each student's choice.

Naversen, Ron, Makanda, "Creating Masks of Culture: An Interactive Multi-Media DVD Presentation." $1000.00. Creation of an interactive multimedia DVD presentation about masks and masking practices and performances from many diverse cultures to be made available to schools, colleges, universities and community and civic groups.

Park Avenue Productions, Inc., Herrin, Cynthia Brooks, "A Christmas Spectacular." $1000.00. Performance by children and youth of "A Christmas Spectacular" musical in December 2008.

Shawnee District 84, Grand Tower, Leslie Varble, "Cinderella's Glass Slipper." $1000.00. Performances on April 17 and 18, 2009, by the students from a district that has no experienced a musical production in almost 20 years.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale College of Liberal Arts, Robert DeHoet, Arts Education Festival. $1000.00. Will occur April 15 and 16 for school children grades one through five from 22 Southern Illinois counties.

SIUC University Museum, Dona Bachman "ARTiculation 2 - Themes and Variations." $985.00. Brinds junior high and high school students from Anna, Elkville, Pinckneyville and Ziegler-Royalton to the University Museum for art appreciation, creation and writing about art.

Southeastern Illinois Concert Association, LTD., Olney, David A. McNabb. $1000.00. Performances of two concerts Feb. 20 by Lynn Wright and Adam DeGraff and April 28, 2009, by the Mantini Sisters.

Southwestern Illinois College Foundation, Red Bud, Karen Stallman, " Art du Jour." $1000.00. An annual event occurring the last weekend in February during which area high school students participate in a one day workshop, with multiple sessions, juried competition, public reception and an awards ceremony.