Keweenaw Krayons awarded 2001 "Arts Alive" Grant Keweenaw County Arts Coordinator Darlene Basto, right, of Sedar Bay, admires the work of Keweenaw Krayons artist Tess Steube of Laurium during last summer’Äôs Masters project at the Ramblin' Rose Garden Gallery in Mohawk. MOHAWK ’Äì Keweenaw Krayons, a non-profit kids’Äô art program in Mohawk, recently received a $10,000 matching grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs through the Rural Arts and Cultural Program (RACP). The Michigan Legislature and Governor John Engler provided a 19 percent increase in arts and cultural funding, which allowed for continued development of the RACP. The grant funds a part-time arts coordinator for the county who will work with the community to continue to expand on the "Keweenaw Arts Alive" concert series and children’Äôs art classes and programs held last summer. This year, "traditional arts" will be the focus in all the activities, including adult art classes and a Young Historians’Äô Program. Combined efforts of Keweenaw Krayons (home of the arts coordinator for Keweenaw County), Fort Wilkins State Park and Historical Complex, the Keweenaw County Historical Society, the Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Public Schools and community leaders and residents will create a traditional arts program this year ’Äì starting with the introduction of local history speakers in the school. Under the 2001 arts grant, plans include 16 children’Äôs free art classes under Keweenaw Krayons: Ramblin’Äô Rose’Äôs Budding Artists program in Mohawk during July and August. In addition this summer, 16 adult art classes will be offered featuring the same traditional arts (fiber, clay, metal, etc.); these classes will involve a fee. Also, traditional arts programs for children will be offered again this year but at several local historical sites in Keweenaw County (including the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, where the program was held last year), with the support of the Keweenaw County Historical Society. Four concerts ’Äì one each in Ahmeek, Mohawk, Eagle River and Eagle Harbor ’Äì will focus on traditional music. In Copper Harbor, Fort Wilkins Historical Complex will host a Heritage Festival featuring life in the 1870s. Keweenaw County Arts Coordinator Darlene Basto said the response to last year’Äôs concerts and arts programs under the 2000 MCACA grant was very enthusiastic, both in turnout for the events and financial and organizational support behind the scenes. "This year our county is fortunate to have received the full amount of the second year of the rural arts grant," Basto said. "And again, with the community's support, we will be able to present a full slate of arts activities for people of all ages." Letters will soon be sent out asking interested businesses, organizations and individuals for community support in matching the $10,000 grant money. To make a donation or to receive more information about the 2001 "traditional arts alive" grant activities, call Darlene Basto at Keweenaw Krayons at 337-4706 or e-mail her at darbasto@hotmail.com. Click here for a schedule of Keweenaw Krayons Art Classes ...