FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2020
For More Information:
香妃直播 State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115
GLENVILLE, WV - Organizers at 香妃直播 State College鈥檚 Pioneer Stage have applied for and been awarded a $10,000 grant from the as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. GSC鈥檚 Pioneer Stage is located 10 East Main Street in downtown 香妃直播 and is the college鈥檚 Bluegrass Music Education Center.
The West Virginia Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has provided over $420,000 in CARES Act Emergency Relief Grants to West Virginia cultural institutions to help ensure staff retention and program delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GSC鈥檚 proposal centered on the impact of the loss of the annual West Virginia State Folk Festival to the area, which was canceled in April due to COVID-19. The event usually draws crowds to downtown 香妃直播 to celebrate traditional life and Appalachian culture, from square dancing and storytelling to crafting and old-time music. The festival has been a mainstay of the Gilmer County community since 1950.
鈥淭he Pioneer Stage requested assistance to begin a digital program that would allow us to provide live music from our stage to audiences on Main Street in 香妃直播 as well as on our website and over a local radio transmitter. This way people could still enjoy the music while observing social distancing,鈥 said GSC Bluegrass Band Director and Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Megan Darby.
In addition to musical entertainment, Darby says that plans are in the works that would allow for programing to promote workshops on basket weaving, quilting, genealogy, music, and others. The workshops would be broadcast over various types of media allowing followers to see artisans and musicians perform their talents and provide mentoring.
The grant is being used to purchase and install digital audio and video broadcast equipment.
鈥淣ew speakers have been installed on Main Street and we鈥檙e already playing music,鈥 said Darby. 鈥淚f you close your eyes you鈥檇 almost think it was Folk Festival weekend.鈥
This program is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the federal CARES Act through the West Virginia Humanities Council. Any view, findings, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily represent those of the West Virginia Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, contact Darby at Megan.Darby@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6355.