November 27, 2007 - St. Lucie CAC Holds Annual Meeting Nov. 30

The St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council will hold its Annual Meeting Friday, Nov. 30, starting at 5 p.m. at the Fort Pierce Community Center, 600 N. Indian River Drive.

The ''Hot Sauce Boys'' will provide music, and snacks and beverages will be provided.

The Cultural Affairs Mini-Grant Awards will begin at 6 p.m., following the council's annual meeting. The mini-grants are provided to cultural organizations that offer public events throughout St. Lucie County. The grants are funded by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and the State of the Arts License Tag program. 

The St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council (CAC) received 45 mini-grant applications for a total of $95,000 in funding requests. The Council approved $1,000 grants for the top 24 cultural organizations applications, which is less than the usual $2,000 grants given out in the past.

''We had an amazing response to the grant application process which shows that there is a great need for funds for cultural programming,'' said Jody Bonet, director of the St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Department. ''Unfortunately, the CAC funds were limited and with the future tax cuts, there may be even less to grant next year. The CAC and all of the non-profits will have to become more innovative in raising funds for future cultural programming.''

To raise funds for the CAC Youth Education program, the public still has time to purchase a raffle ticket for the James Gibson Highwaymen painting. The tickets are $10 and the raffle will be chosen at the CAC Annual Meeting on Nov. 30. Tickets are still available, and you do not have to be present to win. For more information on the annual meeting or other cultural programs contact the Cultural Affairs Council office at (772) 462-1767.