HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-581-E-Arts Commission-Nerys Levy-The 2025 25th Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner celebratinGRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2024-25
Grantee Name
Authorizing Official Name
Email
Project Title
Award
Grant Category ☐Grassroots Arts Program ☐Artist Project Grant Program
Funding Source ☐North Carolina Arts Council ☐Orange County
Grant project period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
As Authorizing Official, I acknowledge the following terms and understand if they are not met, I jeopardize future
funding opportunities from the Orange County Arts Commission. I understand a Compliance Score is issued for future
grants based on my adherence to the following terms:
OCAC Report Due Monday, July 14, 2025
Multicultural Spending Grantee must spend $ on the hiring of multicultural artists as specified
in the grant application.
Crediting and logo usage All grantees 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. If funding source is listed as N.C. Arts
Council above, grantee must also properly credit the N.C. Arts Council using the
proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials for
funded program. Download logos on the OCAC website at
https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee-resources.
Calendar Listing Grantee 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.
Nerys Levy
Nerys Levy
rilevy@mindspring.com
The 2025 25th Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner celebrating cultural,diversity
$2,000.00
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ORANGE COUNTY
ARTS COMMISSION
2024-25 GRANT
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 6 day of September, 2024, by and between Orange
County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts
Commission") and ("Grant Recipient").
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of
local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and
projects.
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide
economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts
projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.
WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with
funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency.
WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive
the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and
WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the
Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the
County;
NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration
and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows:
1.Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project
(“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit A.
2.Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ )
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
Nerys Levy
two thousand dollars 2,000.00
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A.Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1,
2024 and June 30, 2025. 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 14, 2025. 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
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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
Travis Myren, County Manager Date
Nerys Levy
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
10/3/2024
10/8/2024
Revised 01/24
1
ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY
______________________________________________________________________________
Finance Information
Vendor Name: Nerys W. Levy Vendor Contact Person: Nerys Levy Phone: 919-417-3081
Address: 161 Swansea Lane City Chapel Hill State: NC Zip: 27516
Department: Manager’s Office/Arts Commission Amount: $ 2,000.00 Purpose: 2024-25 Arts Grants
Budget Code(s): 37601020-683001 Vendor # 51673
Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes No
Contract Details
Contract Type: New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment )
Effective Date End Date Notice Date (Notice Purpose )
Award
Approved by Board (Agenda Date: ); Made or Administered by
Signature Authority
- BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: )
- Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000
- Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: )
Bidding
Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception(# )
Department Affirmation
This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work
on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement.
This agreement is approved as to technical form and content. Services related to this agreement have already
begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed:
Department Director’s Signature ________________________________________ Date: ________
Information Technologies
This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications:
Office of the Chief Information Officer___________________________________ Date: ________
Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related services
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
All Docusign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov
The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts:
Received for record retention:
Office of the Clerk to the Board __________________________________________Date:_________
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
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10/7/2024
10/8/2024
10/8/2024
Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable
Title The 2025 25th Mi l dred Counci l
Annual Communi ty Di nner
cel ebrati ng cul tural ,di versi ty
by Nerys Lev y in 2024-25 Artist Project Grant
Application
161 Swansea Lane
Chapel Hill , North Carolina
27516
United States
919-417-3081
rilevy@mindspring.com
06/28/2024
id. 46873339
Original Submission 06/28/2024
Score n/a
APPLICANT
INFORMATION
Title of Grant Project The 2025 25th Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner celebrating
cultural,diversity
Legal name of
primary point of
contact
Nerys W endon Levy
Mailing Address of
primary contact
161 Swansea Lane,
Chapel Hill
NC
27516
US
35.91551
-79.1041
Email of primary
contact
rilevy@mindspring.com
Phone number of
primary contact
919-417-3081
Names and emails of
co-applicants (if
applying on behalf of
a group)
W ebsite http://www.neryslevy.com
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
How did you hear
about our grant
program?
OCAC Enews
Did you attend or
watch the Artist
Project Grant
Training Session?
Yes
PROJECT/PROGRAM
INFORMATION
Tell us about your project or program
Grant Amount
Requested
$2000
Project Start Date
(no earlier than July
1, 2024)
July 1 2024
Project End Date (no
later than June 30,
2025)
June 31 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
Project/Program
Summary
The 25th Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner celebrates our local
community’s cultural diversity through food and entertainment.The project,
which I started with Mildred Council, aka Mama Dip,twenty eight years ago
initially celebrated Black History Month but it soon moved to including all
local communities. I have chaired the event for twenty eight years,( we did
not have a dinner during COVID) am the chief fund raiser and given my
connection to the arts ( I am a FRANK gallery member artist and former
chair of the Carrboro Branch Library Arts Program ) ,I am aware of local
culturally diverse groups and performing artists within those groups who
can suggest relevant performing artists for the event.In 2014 the event
received a National League of Cities Award for its outstanding contribution
to furthering cultural diversity. In 2007 we showcased the Carolina
Chocolate Drops which included the recent Pulitzer Proize winner Rhiannon
Giddens. To date over 22,000 local people have been involved in the event
in some form or other either as performers, guests or volunteers.Each year
the event tries to include performing artists from local culturally diverse
communities and rarely invites repeat performers with the exception of the
Paperhand puppets who share the event’s social justice ethos and
emphasis on community diversity and inclusion. At the 24th Dinner held on
April 28 2024 we had a variety of performers, including a mostly female
Saxaphone group,an African American singer, a Venezuelan Dance group,
a Karen youth choir and a culturally diverse puppet group. English and
Spanish language Emcees hosted the on stage performance while the
dinner for 500 local people(, many with underwritten tickets),was in
progress.For the 2025 Dinner we are planning on again having five
culturally diverse performances including representatives from the
Chinese,Latinx, African American,Native American and the Paperhand
Puppets.W e are in the process of consulting with these various cultural
groups, some of whom are represented on the event’s committee and hope
to make our choices by the early fall.In the past food has been provided by
Mama Dips Kitchen at below cost but given that in 2025 that restaurant will
probably be closed, Mama Dips daughter Spring Council is assembling a
group of culturally diverse chefs to provide the menu.The Chapel Hill/
Carrboro School district is donating the space at the Mc Dougle Schools
which has a stage in its cafeteria and our sound person we hope will again
be a UNC Music Department graduate student.Each year I have to gather
funds for this event and after COVID I resolved to pay our local performing
artists who, prior to our 2023 Dinner, had donated their time freely .I will
not be getting any personal remuneration for planning this event but
hopefully in the future we can start paying the event organizer and key
event planners.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
Community Impact The Mildred Council Annual:Community Dinner is an important community
“happening” in Orange County’s calendar.It was named after Mildred
Council, Mama Dip,after her death in 2018.After the event received a
National League of Cities Award in 2014 for the 17th Dinner at a US
Congress Legislative breakfast in W ashington DC, it was noticeable that
many other community dinners were started in the US based on our
model.For many community participants attending the event, the
performance that they witness may be the only performance they will see in
a calendar year.Our audience comprises many from economically and
physically challenged community groups including the Triangle Disability
Awareness Council, Club Nova mental health center,Orange County Senior
Centers,the Inter Faith Council’s male and female shelters including
children, and also marginalized culturally diverse communities.For these
groups we provide underwritten tickets funded by donations and ticket
money from community members who can afford to pay.The ticket price is
$10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.Tickets are available on
line through Eventbrite and the same site accepts donations.Our event
committee is culturally diverse and includes representatives from the
Orange County Office of Equity and Inclusion and Orange County Housing
Department’s social justice specialists.They have access to translators
who provide us with publicity materials in English,Spanish,French,Karen
and Mandarin.They also have deep connections with the Latinx
community.All our performers see performing at this event as both an
opportunity and a privilege given the many illustrious performers we have
showcased in the past.All the event’s participants note that eating and
working alongside people from different cultures is a rewarding experience
and supports our mantra “ Sit down with a stranger and leave with a friend”
The event relies on the participation of community volunteers and we have
participation from many youth groups including the Transplanting Traditions
Community Karen Farm Youth Program,the Chapel/ Hill Carrboro City
Schools Blue Ribbon Mentorship Program and various UNC fraternities.the
entrance corridor to the event is lined with seventeen non profit
organizations with information tables.These non profits include Orange
County agencies such as the Orange County Public Library and the Office
of Equity and Inclusion.Disability groups are also heavily represented.This
non profit participation amplifies the community impact of the event itself.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
Artist Experience Nerys Levy, the artist applicant,has been Chairperson of the Community
Dinner Committee since it’s inception twenty eight years ago is also a
member of the arts community and frequents performance venues and local
culturally diverse social gatherings making her aware of local talent and
culturally diverse performers. She is member artist of FRANK Gallery and
the Friends of the Southern Branch of the Orange County Library in
Carrboro. Both these entities have frequently employed artists to work and
perform.Her contacts on the Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner
Committee and the Horace W illiams House Art Committee add to her
connectedness with the local arts community including the UNC Music
Department.Nerys is,as noted,a visual artist with a record of many national
and international,exhibitions.As her resume notes she was born in W ales
and moved to the USA in 1979.Her native W elsh culture is rooted in music
and performance. She had a former career in the UK with the Commission
for Racial Equality and has a PHD from London University in Modern South
Asian History.She has travelled extensively, painted on site in many
countries, including Polar regions, and was married to Robert Levy (
deceased ) , a cultural anthropologist.She is committed to diversity,equity
and inclusion in all cultural programs and the necessity to pay artists for
their work.
How do you plan to
market your project?
W e will market this event through our website, community dinner.org,on
W CHL radio, the Daily Tarheel, Chapel Hill Magazine,on line local news
platforms, social media and in culturally diverse print publications and
online websites.W e also have a presence on Orange County’s Office of
Equity and Inclusion website.W e print handbills in five
languages,Karen,French,Spanish,English and Mandarin and these are
distributed through various non profit organizations who also distribute
underwritten tickets.
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. View an example
budget here.
Budgeted Expense
Expenses-english-rev ised.xlsx
Budgeted Income
Income-english-rev ised.xlsx
Are you able to fulfill
the full scope of your
project if your grant
is only partially
funded?
No
Resumes of artists/administrators
RESUME_Nerys_Lev y_1_003.docx
W ork Samples
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66
D284DBDF-8E28-4559-A5E4-4F2E92625DFE.jpeg
Title of sample Arctic Summer, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic
Artist name Nerys Levy (applicant)
Year created 2021
Medium (if applicable) Mixed media water color and Japanese ink on paper
9291002D-A342-432E-8C6D-065EC685B7F6.jpeg
Title of sample Ice Form, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic
Artist name Nerys Levy (applicant)
Year created 2021
Medium (if applicable) Acrylic paint and ink on paper
2D12CEAA-C57E-432A-A3CD-CDFA0FCCB49B.jpeg
Title of sample Bull City Female Saxaphone Group
Artist name Ellen Horner,Jennifer Potts,Mary Huntimer,Lynn Narveson
Year created 2024 performers at the 24th Mildred Council Community Dinner
E63AF838-49A6-4B9F-ADC0-5A659D5F0185.jpeg
Title of sample Venezuelan Dance Company
Artist name Lead dancer Saida Kriz-saidakriz03@gmail.com
Year created Performers at the 2024 Mildred Council,Annual Community Dinner.
D52CA341-672A-4A1D-95A7-01AEB68F930E.jpeg
Title of sample Performer at the 24th Mildred Council Annual Community Dinner
Artist name Earl Bynum, Chapel Hill resident and soloist with St Paul AME Church choir
Video Sample:
External Link
Letters of support (optional)
Nerys_Lev y_Letter_of_Support_for_Orange_Co_Grant.docx
Docusign Envelope ID: 1919D598-D3BA-49A6-BCA6-E8394D2CAE66