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:
• Open: January 6, 2026
• Due: March 9, 2026, 5 pm EST
APPLICANT INFORMATION
Grants are awarded in the amount of $2,000.
The annual Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant supports projects that feature the fine arts, performing arts or heritage arts of the Appalachians in Ashe County.
Proposals submitted should address one of the following objectives:
1. Projects that feature fine arts, heritage crafts, or performing arts of the Appalachian region in Ashe County.
2. Projects that extend arts activities and opporturnities to people throughout Ashe County.
3. Art-related projects that contribute to tourism and economic development in Ashe County.
4. Art projects that celebrate the cultural and artistic diversity of people and families in the region.
Applications will be considered from non-profits, businesses, individuals, churches, performers and social organizations that wish to launch innovative arts projects that will benefit Ashe County. Funded activities must take place between May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027.
Application Assistance:
For questions and/or assistance with your application, please contact Joni Ray, Executive Director: 336-846-2787 or director@ashecountyarts.org
Paper applications available upon request. Please note that last years grant recipients must wait one grant cycle before applying again.
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PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS
2025 Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant Recipients:
LocalMotion Lansing and the Magic Portals and Doorways Project
Click here to read the full press release in the Ashe Post & Times
This year, two grants of $2,000 each were awarded to innovative projects that reflect the Fund’s commitment to the arts and community rebuilding following Hurricane Helene. After a competitive selection process, the 2025 grant recipients are LocalMotion Lansing and the Magic Portals and Doorways project.
LocalMotion Lansing, led by Caroline Renfro, will produce a pilot episode for a YouTube series exploring how the land we live on influences artistic expression. The series will feature Appalachian artists, artisans, and farmers, showcasing how local materials like wood, clay, and fibers shape creative work. The pilot episode will be directed and filmed by Todd-based filmmaker Haley Mellon, with plans to expand the series to connect rural Appalachian communities with audiences across the globe. The project aims to highlight the region’s artistic traditions while fostering a sense of shared experience and community pride.
Magic Portals and Doorways, spearheaded by Pat Kincheloe Morrison, will bring whimsical and healing art experiences to Ashe County children and adults. Through community workshops at Blue Ridge Elementary and Doe Ridge Pottery as well as the Springfest event, participants will create ceramic fairy doors to be installed at businesses and other locations around the county. Residents and visitors can follow a passport trail to discover these magical doorways, encouraging exploration and engagement. The project is rooted in expressive arts therapy principles, offering a playful and therapeutic way for the community to heal and connect after the challenges of Hurricane Helene.
Past Grant Recipient: Appalachian Tunes
Project: Traditional Music Lessons for Adults
In 2024, the Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant was awarded to Appalachian Tunes to support a 20-week music education program offering traditional old-time and bluegrass instruction for adults and young adults in Ashe County. Running May through September, the program provides small-group classes on instruments such as fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and dulcimer, helping preserve and promote Appalachian musical heritage through accessible, community-based learning.
This program now continues through the Arts Council and you can find out more information by clicking here.
Past Grant Recipient: Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music
Project: Tuesday Matinee Concert Series at the Ashe Civic Center, featuring local and regional Appalachian musicians through monthly afternoon concerts held June–October.
In 2023, the Jane Lonon Legacy Fund Grant was awarded to Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music to support its Tuesday Matinee Concert Series at the Ashe Civic Center. Held monthly from June through October, the series features local and regional Appalachian musicians and offers accessible, afternoon performances designed to welcome a broad, cross-generational audience.
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