In an effort to support teachers and creativity in the classroom, Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Arts in Education Committee is working with businesses and individuals to award mini-grants of up to $500 each for arts related projects to educators in Polk County and upper Spartanburg County, S.C.

Simple applications for these grants, called “Be Inspired Grants” or “BIG,” will be available at the schools and on the TFAC website beginning May 1.

Applications must be delivered to TFAC or postmarked by Friday, May 31 at 5 p.m. to be considered for funding in the 2013-2014 school year. Grants will be announced by July 1 and checks will be awarded for the projects at a reception to be held at TFAC in late August.

K-12 teachers in Polk County and Spartanburg County District One Schools, as well as registered non-public schools will be eligible for funding intended to support the arts in education. Teachers can seek funding for creative classroom projects involving elements of music, dance, sculpture, painting, drawing and other visual, literary, or performing arts. Some possible use of funding could be for art supplies, software, performances, instruments, visiting artists or workshops in which students are directly involved. Subject areas are not limited to fine arts, but could be core subjects such as science or math taught using elements of the arts.

“We also have Directory of Creative Artists available for teachers interested in bringing a professional into their classroom,” said Marianne Carruth, TFAC Director of Arts in Education. “This could be a great opportunity to support students, teachers and artists all at once.”