Gloucester County recently received a $4,500 Virginia Commission for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Grant to support arts in the community. With the matching funds, the county was able to provide $9,000 to assist Gloucester Arts on Main.

Arts on Main was chosen for the grant because of its model for how the arts contribute to the community’s overall well-being and enhancement, said a press release. In addition, it presents arts in all formats for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The arts organization also measures academic improvement in students and positively impacts workforce skills development such as confidence, innovation, strategic thinking, and problem-solving, said the release. Finally, Arts on Main reports significant financial returns to the county as a whole.

Several of Arts on Main’s major accomplishments, as noted in the grant application, include offering free school programs, classes and workshops for all ages, youth arts camps, mentoring programs, ...