THE JANE LONON LEGACY FUND GRANT

The Jane Lonon Legacy Fund was established in 2019, to recognize and honor the dedication and hard work of Jane Lonon, retired Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council with the mission of expanding on Lonon’s success in the development of the arts in Ashe County.

Supporting projects that feature fine arts, performing arts or heritage arts in Ashe County.

Application Dates:

The next application cycle will open in January, 2025, and close in March, 2025.

Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant Supports Appalachian Tunes Music Program in Ashe County  

West Jefferson, North Carolina – The Jane Lonon Legacy Fund, established in June 2019 to honor the contributions of Jane Lonon, former Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council, continues to support the development of the arts in Ashe County. The Legacy Fund grants money annually to a project that features the fine arts, performing arts or heritage arts that contribute to tourism and economic development and celebrate the heritage of Ashe County and the Appalachian region. 

Now in its fifth year, the grant cycle attracted a pool of strong and diverse applicants with proposals for a variety of arts related initiatives. After careful consideration, the committee awarded a $2500 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant to Appalachian Tunes who will offer traditional old-time and bluegrass music classes for adults and young adults in Ashe County. The program aims to preserve and promote the musical heritage of the region through small group instruction on instruments such as the dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle, banjo, and guitar.

This exciting new initiative in Ashe County is a 20-week session, running from May to September, that will feature weekly 2-hour evening classes taught by experienced instructors including Emily Spencer, Martha Spencer, Kilby Spencer, and Kelley Breiding. The program is priced at $200 for the entire session, with scholarships available to ensure accessibility.

Appalachian Tunes aims to meet the demand for music education in Ashe County while fostering a deeper appreciation for local musical traditions. By providing access to traditional instruments and instruction, the program celebrates the cultural heritage of the Appalachian region and promotes community engagement through music.

Registration is open to adults and young adults over the age of 13. For inquiries, contact the Ashe County Arts Council at 336-846-2787 or info@ashecountyarts.org.

The Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant committee, comprised of Ashe County Arts Council board members, artists, and community members, is proud to support initiatives like Appalachian Tunes that enrich our community through the arts. The next grant cycle will begin in the Spring of 2025, offering further opportunities for creative projects to flourish in Ashe County.

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PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant funds Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music Matinee Concert Series  

The Jane Lonon Legacy Fund was established in June 2019 to honor the dedication and hard work of Jane Lonon, retired Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council. Her devotion to the development of the arts in Ashe County is the motivation to continue that work in perpetuity. The Legacy Fund grants money annually to projects that feature the fine arts, performing arts or heritage arts that contribute to tourism and economic development and celebrate the heritage of Ashe County and the Appalachian region. 

Now in its fourth year, the grant cycle attracted a pool of strong and diverse applicants with proposals for a wide variety of arts related initiatives. After careful consideration, the committee awarded a $2500 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant to Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music who will hold a Tuesday Matinee Concert Series at the Ashe Civic Center. This series takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month from June to October and highlights local and regional musicians. All matinees are open to the public on the “Pay as you Exit” model with a suggested $10 donation.

The mission of Mountain Home Music is to celebrate diverse styles of Appalachian performing arts, including music, singing, storytelling, and dance. Mountain Home Music strives to educate and build community through the arts, providing accessible cross-generational experiences. The Tuesday Matinee series is an important part of Mountain Home Music’s mission.

Mountain Home Music outlined the benefits of bringing this series to Ashe County in their application, stating that the series was designed to be both educational and interactive, and to provide an affordable outlet for senior communities, families, and those who prefer afternoon performances. They strive to find venues that are accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, to ensure that their programs are inclusive and welcoming. This series in marketed not only to locals but also to regional activity directors, churches, schools, and summer camps in surrounding counties with the aim of encouraging day trips to their programming highlighting Appalachian culture. They also provide dining options and sightseeing ideas to enhance visitors’ experience of the mountains.

Mountain Home Music kicks off the matinee series with Southbound 77 Bluegrass

In 2022, a $2500 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant was awarded to Makayla Church Rosenberger who facilitated a Summer Contemporary Dance Festival, July 5 – 16, 2022. She built creative work that reflected Appalachian culture and heritage through dance performance, movement workshops, and collaboration with local musicians and dance studios.

The festival brought current contemporary dance practices to Ashe County by offering interactive experiences and performance opportunities including two main components – movement workshops and a dance performance. Free community dance workshops were available to a variety of ages and skill levels. The classes offered were include Contemporary Technique (ages 7 – 12 and 12+), Tiny Dancer Creative Movement (ages 4-6), Adult Movement (all ages and abilities) and an Outdoor Community Class for movers of all ages.

The second component of the festival was a dance performance at the Ashe County Civic Center. The performance showcased local dance students from studios around the area, professional contemporary dancers and the repertoire learned by the selected festival participants.

In 2021, a $2500 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant was awarded to the Greater Lansing Area Development (GLAD) organization for a community mural honoring Lansing, NC native and American folk singer and songwriter, Ola Belle Reed. The GLAD Mural project engaged local artists Whitney Landwehrmann and Joni Ray to create the community mural.

In 2020, a $2500 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant was awarded to the Ashe County Connectivity Project for the creation of a mural located on the Park Office Building at the New River State Park, Wagoner Access. The project is the first of a series of murals that will connect the arts and nature with the goal of enhancing tourism, awareness of the county’s natural assets and the local economy