Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce

November 17 2017                                                                                                       Nothin’ but the best from bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy, performing at Arts Council of the Valley’s Court Sq Theater                                                    hrchamber.org

Arts Council of the Valley is excited to host the sensational bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy on Friday, December 8th as part of its ongoing Court Square Theater Music Series.

Formed in 1994 in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Nothin’ Fancy was initially created for bluegrass competitions. The band has grown steadily in popularity, releasing 11 albums and earning a loyal fan base of festivalgoers and bluegrass lovers around the world. In addition to hosting their annual Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival, Nothin’ Fancy has performed at venues in Canada, Norway, and the United States, including Lincoln Center and Virginia’s own Birchmere Music Hall.

Nothin’ Fancy members Mike Andes, Mitchell Davis, Chris Sexton, Tony Shorter, and Caleb Cox are well known for their strong vocals, powerful instrumentation, and energetic stage presence. After self-releasing four albums, the group debuted their album “Once Upon A Road” through Pinecastle Records, which earned them an International Bluegrass Music Association Emerging Artist award in 2002.

Nothin’ Fancy has also been awarded Entertaining Group of the Year six times by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) and been nominated for SPBGMA’s Vocal Group of the Year.

Nothin’ Fancy will perform at Arts Council of the Valley’s Court Square Theater on Friday, December 8th. Doors open at 6:00pm with the performance beginning at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit valleyarts.org or call 540.433.9189.

Arts Council of the Valley’s Court Square Theater is located at 41-F Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce

November 6 2017                                                                                                         Arts Council of the Valley Awards Fifteen Advancing the Arts Grants to Community Artists, Art Educators                                                                          hrchamber.org

During the past decade, Arts Council of the Valley has awarded nearly $350,000 to support community-based initiatives in the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County through its Advancing the Arts grants. These funds are awarded to organizations, art educators, and artists working in the visual, performing, and literary arts to support the art that makes for a vibrant community. For the Fall 2017 cycle, fifteen applicants received a total of $10,000.

Advancing the Arts grants are awarded in two categories: Arts in Education, provided to educators and educational organizations, and Creative Inspiration, provided to artists.

The Council is happy to announce its Fall 2017 Advancing the Arts grant recipients:

Arts in Education:

• The Making Space, Lucy Simms Center, Monica Burkholder

• The Art of Needlework, Cub Run and Linville-Edom Elementary Schools, Robin W. Goble

• Exploring Printmaking with Children, Pleasant Valley and Plains Elementary Schools, Amelia Guido

• Boys and Girls Club Art Expansion Program, Boys and Girls Club, Kristin Lewis

• Wall of Wood, Peak View and Lacey Springs Elementary Schools,
Christopher G. Michael

• Socially Conscious Chamber Music, The Second Movement, David Perry

• The Importance of Art from Youth Perspectives: A Mural, Shenandoah Art Mobile, Emily Reese

• Professional Practice Intensive Program for Artists, john ros

• Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Second Home Learning Center, Leeanne
Shepherd

Creative Inspiration:

• On a Silent Night, The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, Lorraine
Campbell

• Bridging the Gap of the Rocktown Ringers, The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, Inc., Heath Denman

• Buck Gooter Sound System, Buck Gooter and Billy Brett

• Musical Hands, Ice House Studios Photo Exhibition, Lara Ressler Horst

• Confluence: Rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Scott Jost

• Steve B.I.K.O. EP Project, Steven Thomas

Advancing the Arts grant applications were available in August and submitted in October.

In January 2018, Arts Council of the Valley will host a workshop for potential applicants for a second round of grant awards in Spring 2018. Interested applicants can find more information at www.valleyarts.org. The Council encourages all artists and art educators to apply.

Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Contact:

Cate Bruns, Communications and Administrative Assistant

valleyarts.org, 540.801.8779