HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-574-E-Arts Commission-Morrow Dowdle -2023-24 Arts GrantsGRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2023-24
Grantee Name
Authorizing Official
Project Title
Award
Grant Category ☐Artist Project Grant Program
Funding Source
Date
End Date
OCAC Report Due
☐Grassroots Arts Program
☐North Carolina Arts Council ☐ Orange County
July 1, 2023
June 30, 2024
Monday, July 15, 2024
Stipulations ☐Grantee must spend $ on the hiring of multicultural artists specified in
the grant application.
☐Grantee must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission using the proper
logo on all publicity materials for the funded program. Recipients of operations‐related
grants must include the OCAC logo with link to www.artsorange.org on grantee’s
website. Download logos on the OCAC website at
https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee‐resources
☐Grantee must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission and the N.C. Arts
Council using the proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials
for funded program. Recipients of operations‐related grants must include the OCAC logo
with link to www.artsorange.org and N.C. Arts Council logo, credit line, and link to
www.ncarts.org on grantee’s website. Download logos and view proper credit line
language on the OCAC website at https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee‐resources
☒The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances (virtual or in‐
person) open to the public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts
Commission website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient
must add a link to www.artsorange.org (Orange County Arts Commission logo
preferred) to their main webpage.
Staff Contact Katie Murray, Director
(919)245‐2335 | kmurray@orangecountync.gov
Morrow Dowdle
Morrow Dowdle (843) 991-5338
Creative Writing Course at Orange Correctional Center
$2,000.00
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Revised August 2022
ORANGE COUNTY ARTS
COMMISSION 2023-24
GRANT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 29 day of September, 2023, by and between Orange
County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts
Commission") and ("Grant Recipient").
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of
local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and
projects.
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide
economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts
projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.
WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with
funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency.
WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive
the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and
WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the
Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the
County;
NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration
and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows:
1.Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project
(“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit A.
2.Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ )
have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved
Project. The Recipient shall be required to match funds at least dollar-for-dollar with cash
from the Grant Recipient’s funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or
the North Carolina Arts Council, as outlined in the attached Exhibit A.
3.Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots
Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds
to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General
Assembly.
4.Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient
Morrow Dowdle
two thousand dollars $2,000.00
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A.Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1,
2023 and June 30, 2024. The Project shall be implemented in the manner
described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the
Project.
B.Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the
original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation
schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts
Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant
Recipient’s request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof.
Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts
Commission’s decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission
fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated
herein, the modifications shall be deemed approved.
C.Non–assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project
or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission.
D.Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to
costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant
Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3)
years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit.
E.Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding
taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the
purpose described in the attached Exhibit A.
F.Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report
on July 15, 2024. The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North
Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of
the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of
grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals.
5.Responsibilities of the Arts Commission
A.Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of
$ to the Grant Recipient.
6.Publicity
A.Acknowledgement. Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts
Commission and/or the North Carolina Arts Council using the proper logo(s)
and credit line in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and
online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the
evaluation report. Official Orange County Arts Commission and North Carolina
Arts Council logos may be downloaded at www.artsorange.org/grantee-resources
and may not be altered in any way. When no printed information is used, verbal
$2,000.00
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credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include
the following credit line and logo(s) (check all that apply):
i.County Funds Only. Orange County Arts Commission logo required.
Credit line required for audio projects: “This program is supported by the
Orange County Arts Commission.”
ii.North Carolina Arts Council Funding. The Orange County Arts
Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council logos are required. Credit
line: “This program is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.”
B.The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the
public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission
website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient must
add a link to www.artsorange.org (Orange County Arts Commission logo
preferred) to their main webpage.
7.Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the
Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees
from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal
property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds.
8.Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an
employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of
principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts
Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees
that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf
of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to
obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In
addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation
insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's
installation.
9.Termination
A.In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter referred to as
“default”), the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement:
(i)Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain
payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter
relating to the performance of services under this Agreement.
(ii)Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to
satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any
provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its
sole discretion.
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(iii)Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws,
regulations, or stated public policy.
B.In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the
discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require
the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice
of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This
clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County’s or the Arts Commission’s
remedies in law or in equity.
10.Miscellaneous.
A.Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and
entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in
writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors
and assigns.
B.Governing Law. Governing Law and Priority: Both parties agree that this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and
Orange County. Grant Recipient shall at all times remain in compliance with all
applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations including but not
limited to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws, policies, rules, and
regulations and the Orange County Non-Discrimination Policy and Orange
County Living Wage Policy (each policy is incorporated herein by reference and
may be viewed at
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.).
Any violation of this requirement is a breach of this Agreement and Arts
Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement without further
obligation on the part of the Arts Commission. This paragraph is not intended to
limit and does not limit the definition of breach to discrimination. By executing
this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and
has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list
created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this
Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has
not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list
created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. By executing this
Agreement Grant Recipient affirms they are and shall remain in compliance with
Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. In determining
the basic services to be provided, should any documents be referenced in or
attached to this Agreement, the terms herein shall have priority in any conflict
between the terms of referenced documents and the terms of this Agreement.
C.Dispute Resolution: Neither party may initiate binding arbitration. Any disputes
shall be resolved by nonbinding mediation. If such mediation fails either party
may initiate litigation to resolve the dispute. Should either party initiate litigation
to settle any dispute involving the terms of this Agreement such litigation shall be
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
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initiated in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina seated in Orange
County, North Carolina.
D.Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may
be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the
intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina
General Statute Chapter 66.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant
Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the
dates set forth under signatures below.
For and on behalf of the Grant Recipient
Date
For and on behalf of Orange County Government
Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager Date
Morrow Dowdle (843) 991-5338
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
10/10/2023
10/17/2023
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Revised August 2022
ORANGE COUNTY—DEPARTMENT USE ONLY
Department
Party/Vendor Name: Party/Vendor Contact Person: Contact Phone: Party/Vendor Address:
City State: NC Zip: Department: COUNTYMGR/Arts Commission Amount:
Purpose: 2023-24 Arts Grants Budget Code(s):37601020-683001 Vendor # (N/A if new vendor) Vendor
is a BOCC consultant? Yes No Contract Type: (Check one) New Renewal Amendment Effective
No Date 9-29-2023 Approved by Board Yes Agenda Date:
This agreement is approved as to technical form and content:
Department Director’s Signature Date:
Information Technologies
(Applicable only to hardware/software purchases or related services) This agreement has been reviewed and is
approved as to information technology content and specifications:
Office of the Chief Information Officer Date:
Risk Management
This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements:
Office of the Risk Management Officer Date:
Financial Services
This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control
Act:
Office of the Chief Financial Officer Date:
Legal Services
This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency:
Office of the County Attorney Date:
Clerk to the Board
Received for record retention:
All Docusign contracts must be copied to Laura Jensen upon completion @ljensen@orangecountync.gov
The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts:
Office of the Clerk to the Board _Date:_
Morrow Dowdle Morrow Dowdle (843) 991-5338
425 W King Street Hillsborough 27278 $2,000.00
68261
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
10/10/2023
10/13/2023
10/13/2023
10/17/2023
Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable
Title Morrow Dowdl e
by Morrow Dowdle in 2023-24 Artist Project Grant
Application
425 W King St
Hillsborough, North Carolina
27278
NC
United States
8439915338
morrowdowdlepoetry@gmail.com
06/15/2023
id. 40765769
Original Submission 06/15/2023
APPLICANT
INFORMATION
Name of primary
contact
Morrow Dowdle
Complete mailing
address of primary
contact
425 W King Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Email of primary
contact
morrowdowdlepoetry@gmail.com
Phone number of
primary contact
(843) 991-5338
Names and emails of
co-applicants (if
applying on behalf of
a group)
N/A
W ebsite @morrowdowdle (Instagram)
How did you hear
about our grant
program?
OCAC Enews
Did you attend or
watch the Artist
Project Grant
Training Session?
No
PROJECT/PROGRAM
INFORMATION
Tell us about your project or program
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
Title of Grant
Request
Creative W riting Course at Orange Correctional Center
Grant Amount
Requested
2,000
Project Start Date
(no earlier than July
1, 2023)
July 1, 2023
Project End Date (no
later than June 30,
2024)
June 30, 2024
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
Project/Program
Summary
I am seeking funding to teach a creative writing course to the inmates at
the Orange Correctional Center (OCC) in Hillsborough, NC. I will personally
develop the curriculum for this course, which will include basic instruction in
writing poetry and creative non-fiction, sharing and critiquing writing, and
reading and analyzing work by contemporary writers, particularly ones from
the local community. Once every three months, I will invite a local poet or
spoken word artist to share their work with the inmates, engage in
discourse about writing, and co-host an open mic for the inmates. The
overall theme of the course will focus on healing from trauma through the
act and art of writing. I am uniquely qualified to conduct this course as a
published and award-winning poet, community arts organizer, and
psychiatric physician assistant who has treated incarcerated and
previously incarcerated individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress and
other forms of mental illness.
The argument for creative writing instruction in the prison setting is well-
established. According to Dr. Ashley Hamilton, professor and director of a
prison creative writing program through the University of Denver,
“Research and data show that [creative writing] can be deeply impactful
and powerful for [inmates]. . .. It can impact the way they see themselves
as community members and leaders and create a healthier sense of self
and identity.” Research also bears out repeatedly that men who have been
subjected to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and
abandonment as children or adults are at higher risk for incarceration than
their peers who have been spared similar experiences. Furthermore, many
male inmates experience abuse by security officers or other inmates during
incarceration. It is no surprise, then, that many inmates have PTSD prior to
incarceration or develop PTSD while incarcerated. My course focuses on
using creative writing as a tool to recognize and process the trauma that
most inmates have experienced prior to and during incarceration, which
has often led to their antisocial activity.
Currently, OCC offers very few enrichment programs to inmates that are
not religious in nature. This course would give inmates the opportunity to
interact with members of the community who are not there to evangelize.
Inmates who take any kind of educational program are up to 43 percent
less likely to commit another crime and return to prison, according to a
study conducted by the Rand Corporation. Many OCC inmates plan to
integrate into Hillsborough and its surrounding communities upon release;
therefore, it is well worth providing learning opportunities for our future
neighbors.
The course will occur one night per month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., beginning
in September 2023. OCC has a building called the Peace Center, where
educational and recreational events for inmates take place; this is where
the course would be taught. I have the personal support of Chaplain Josh
LeRoy, who supervises special programs at OCC, as well as the Alamance
Orange Prison Ministry, which promotes both spiritual and secular
enrichment opportunities at OCC.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
Community Impact This course will be offered solely to the adult men currently incarcerated at
Orange Correctional Center (OCC) in Hillsborough, NC. This population is
highly diverse racially and ethnically, and ranges in age from late teens to
70s. The course will not require formal enrollment; rather, inmates will
participate on an ongoing volunteer basis. Based on my initial workshop
turnout, and what OCC Chaplain Josh LeRoy has discerned, I expect 15-
40 participants per class.
Artist Experience I started teaching workshops on healing trauma through poetry in August
2022, after being invited to do so by the Durham Chapter of the National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This was part of an ongoing series of
arts workshops that NAMI hosts for the NC Triangle, and my workshop was
the first of its kind. W e expected a handful of participants; instead, over 30
people joined virtually. Many of them had never written poetry before.
Participants expressed the deep relief they experienced through the
process of writing and sharing about their trauma in a supportive group.
Afterwards, NAMI Durham’s Special Programs Coordinator Nora Dicker
shared with me that no arts workshop had ever been so well attended. This
indicated to me that there is a deep need in our community to express
difficult experiences beyond typically available resources, such as
psychotherapy, religious organizations, and social media. I have since
taught similar workshops for Piedmont Friends Yearly Meeting & Fellowship
annual retreat at Guilford College and for the Orange County Arts
Commission at the Eno Arts Mill and have experienced similar positive
outcomes for participants.
In January 2023, I was invited by Sally Freeman from the Alamance
Orange Prison Ministry to teach a workshop on healing trauma through
writing poetry to the inmates at the Orange Correctional Center (OCC). The
workshop was attended by about 30 inmates, which was a remarkable
turnout, according to Chaplain Josh LeRoy, who supervises special
programs at OCC. I spent two hours with the men, helping them write about
personal trauma through a variety of writing prompts. Many of them shared
personal experiences with our group that they had never shared with
anyone else. Many openly expressed grief and were supported with deep
compassion by the group. Many stated afterwards that they had gotten to
know their fellow inmates better through that one workshop than they had
through years-long acquaintance. The overwhelming majority said that they
wanted to continue this work. The development of the creative writing
course I have outlined in this proposal is my response to that plea.
How do you plan to
market your project?
The creative writing course will be advertised to inmates at the Orange
Correctional Center (OCC) by flyers placed around the prison as well as
verbal announcements by Chaplain Josh LeRoy, who interacts with
inmates on a daily basis.
PROJECT/PROGRAM
BUDGET
Please fill out the charts below with your project's expenses and income.
Use the "Explanation" box to offer details for each category. NOTE: The
Total Cash Expense must equal the Total Cash Income.
Budgeted Expense
Expenses-english-rev ised.xlsx
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02
Budgeted Income
Income-english-rev ised.xlsx
Resumes of artists/administrators
Dowdle_CV_2023_Literary.docx
W ork Samples
OCAC_Artist_Project_Grant_2023_worksample.pdf
Video Sample:
External Link
Letters of support (optional)
OCAC_Artist_Project_Grant_2023_NAMILoR.pdf
OCAC_Artist_Project_Grant2023_LeRoyLoR.docx
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CC5A806-DAB8-46FC-8D7C-E83165B71C02