HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-597-E-County Mgr-Madeleine Popkin-2025-2026 Arts Grants
GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2025-26
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, 2025 – June 30, 2026
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 July 10, 2026
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.
Madeleine Popkin
Madeleine Popkin
X
Audio Soundscape to exploring the impact of underwater sound pollution
X
mgp59@cornell.edu
2,251.00
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
1
Revised August 2025
ORANGE COUNTY
ARTS COMMISSION
2025-26 GRANT
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 5 day of September, 2025, 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
2,251.00
Madeleine Popkin
two thousand two hundred fifty-one dollars
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
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Revised August 2025
A. Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1, 2025
and June 30, 2026. 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 10, 2026. 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
2,251.00
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
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Revised August 2025
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.
X
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
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Revised August 2025
(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: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
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Revised August 2025
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
Madeleine Popkin
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
9/17/2025
9/26/2025
ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY
Revised 01/24
1
Finance Information
Vendor Name: Vendor Contact Person:
Phone: Address: City:
State: NC Zip: Department: County Manager’s Office/Arts Commission
Amount: Purpose: 2025-2026 Arts Grants
Budget Code(s): 37601020-683001 Vendor #
Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes No
Contract Details
Contract Type: X 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 pro ject
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:
Chapel Hill
$2,251.00
Madeleine Popkin
27516
(919) 259-4112
Madeleine Popkin
69118
208 Stratford Drive
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
9/15/2025
ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY
Revised 01/24
2
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 Docu Sign contracts:
Received for record retention:
Office of the Clerk to the Board Date:
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
9/19/2025
9/22/2025
9/25/2025
Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable
Title Madel ei ne Popki n
by madeleine popkin in 2025-26 Artist Project
Grant Application
208 Stratford Drive
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
27516
United States
9192594112
mgp59@cornell.edu
06/29/2025
id. 50941358
Original Submission 06/29/2025
Score n/a
APPLICANT
INFORMATION
Applicant Name Madeleine Popkin
Legal name of
applicant, if different
from above
Mailing Address of
primary contact
208 stratford drive
chapel hill
NC
27516
US
35.9378454
-79.0962997
Email of primary
contact
mgp59@cornell.edu
Phone number of
primary contact
9192594112
Do you identify as
any of the following:
Names and emails of
co-applicants (if
applying on behalf of
a group)
W ebsite https://mgpopkin.wordpress.com
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
How did you hear
about our grant
program?
W ord of mouth
Did you attend or
watch the Artist
Project Grant
Training Session?
Yes
PROJECT/PROGRAM
INFORMATION
Tell us about your project or program
Title of Grant Project Audio Soundscape to exploring the impact of underwater sound pollution
Grant Amount
Requested
3,000
Project Start Date
(no earlier than July
1, 2025)
July 15, 2025
Project End Date (no
later than June 30,
2026)
June 30th 2026
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
Project/Program
Summary
Building upon a similar project I recently completed at a residency in
Lithuania, I propose to create a site-specific sound installation that focuses
on the underwater environment off the NC inner and outer banks. This
immersive installation will include a soundscape crafted from audio
recordings gathered by local bioacoustics researchers, and a series of 2-4
paintings depicting spectrograms of the sounds used.
The purpose of this installation is to raise awareness about the detrimental
effects of human-generated noise pollution on marine life using real
recordings collected by bioacoustic scientists.
In addition to the visceral impact of the audio-visual and painting portion of
the installation, which will be free and open to the public, the exhibition will
incorporate educational diagrams that highlight the findings of the
bioacoustic conservation researchers I work with, aiming to inform visitors
about the importance of preserving marine acoustic habitats and the
implications of sonic pollution on whale populations. The immersive portion
of the installation will employ the recordings of anthropogenic noise
pollution collected by bioacoustic conservation labs on the East Coast of
NC. The audio installation will be accompanied by analogous light
projections to exemplify the distress it causes for animals that rely on
sound as their primary sense. The noise level and corresponding visual
translation will be explained in infographics to help the public understand
the degree of critical imposition and loss of quality of life it causes in
marine ecosystems. The goal of displaying these components together is
to provide a strong emotional and empathetic context for the public to
absorb this information about their local marine ecosystems. Statistics
alone have not been impactful enough to encourage critical engagement
with environmental policymakers, but I believe inviting the public into an
immersive space to drop their anthropogenic defenses and experience a
deeper emotional connection to their local marine environments will create
a true investment in change.
Community Impact The aim of this installation is to raise public awareness of our impact on
noise levels in local marine ecosystems throughout the East Coast of the
United States and the Baltic Coastline of Lithuania, highlighting ways local
communities and enterprises can reduce noise pollution and shipping
traffic. A larger-scale goal of this project would be to engage corporations
that contribute large amounts of noise pollution in these locations in a
conversation about how they can begin to reduce the level of their sonic
disruption on the environments they rely on for profit. The installations will
include links to civic engagement efforts and conservation initiatives,
encouraging an open dialogue with local officials and policymakers. This
installation and the public engagement it encourages will provide the
momentum that is necessary for the establishment of noise pollution
regulations for local harbors along the East Coast of the Atlantic and the
Lithuanian Baltic Coast beginning with Klaipeda Harbor and the NC Outer
Banks.
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
Artist Experience Last year I was awarded a residency in Palanga, Lithuania where I
completed a series of paintings along with an immersive soundscape made
from audio recordings collected by bioacoustic scientists in Klaipeda
(Donatas Bagocius) and throughout the US (NOAA W ebsite), to exemplify
the experience of sea creatures living in an increasingly overwhelming
underwater environment and aim to raise awareness about the detrimental
effects of human-generated noise pollution on marine life.
W ith recordings provided by local experts in marine bioacoustics, I
recreated the underwater acoustic environment that whales, harbor
porpoises, seals, and other echolocation-using marine life are forced to
navigate daily in order to survive. The installation includes a live audio
visualizer of the soundscape, and a painting of a sonogram depicting a
humpback whale’s call and subsequent response when exposed to low
frequency military sonar pings. The harsh sonogram aims to translate the
auditory sensory overload that marine life must survive in to the visually-
focused human nervous system. By juxtaposing this striking image with
tranquil landscapes of Palanga’s sunsets, I emphasized the dissonance in
human and marine animals’ experience of our oceans, highlighting
humanity’s lack of awareness of the intensity of noise pollution under these
seemingly peaceful waters. These visual components in combination with
the soundscapes allow visitors to experience firsthand the challenges
marine life face in a world dominated by human-generated noise.
This installation is currently exhibited at The Lithuanian Sea Museum in
Klaipeda and aims to raise public awareness of our impact on noise levels
in local marine ecosystems throughout the Baltic Coastline of Lithuania,
highlighting ways local communities and enterprises can reduce noise
pollution and shipping traffic. A larger-scale goal of this project will be to
engage corporations that contribute large amounts of noise pollution in
these locations in a conversation about how they can begin to reduce the
level of their sonic disruption on the environments they rely on for profit.
How do you plan to
market your project?
The exhibition will be publicized on the social media platforms of the
participating Galleries/Museums, as well as that of the Conservation Labs I
collaborate with. I plan to attend bioacoustic conservation conferences and
symposiums discussing ways to protect marine ecosystems to spread this
initiative throughout the US, with hopes of facilitating site-specific iterations
of the project as interest and engagement grow beyond specialists and
emerge into public discourse.
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
Resumes of artists/administrators
Madeleine_Popkin_Artist_CV_2025.pdf
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E
W ork Samples
Interference-HumbackXMilitarySonar_2024_7x2_AcrylicCanv as.jpg
Title of sample Interference
Artist name Madeleine Popkin
Year created 2024
Medium (if applicable) Acrylic on Canvas
ruffle1.jpg
Title of sample Noise
Artist name Madeleine Popkin
Year created 2024
Medium (if applicable) pastel on paper
Lost_2024_23X33_Pastel.jpg
Title of sample Lost
Artist name Madeleine Popkin
Year created 2024
Medium (if applicable) Pastel on Paper
PalangaSunset2_2024_4X8_pastel.jpg
Title of sample Palanga Sunset
Artist name Madeleine Popkin
Year created 2024
Medium (if applicable) Pastel on Paper
IMG_6643.jpg
Title of sample Installation Shot
Artist name Madeleine Popkin
Year created 2024
Medium (if applicable) multimedia immersive installation
Video Sample:
External Link
https://vimeo.com/991844958
Letters of support
(optional but
recommended)
Docusign Envelope ID: 763694D9-0796-4D3B-8A28-EAD28937153E