LUMBERTON — Ten Robeson County nonprofits have received a total of more than $26,000 in Grassroots Arts Program funding from the North Carolina Arts Council to support a variety of cultural projects.

The Carolina Civic Center Foundation served as the Provisional County Partner for this year’s grant cycle, and a volunteer community review panel of Robeson County residents met to determine the distribution of funds based on several criteria, according to Richard Sceiford, executive director of the foundation.

The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, awards grant money each year to provide diverse arts experiences for all 100 counties of North Carolina.

In 2009-2010, the Arts Council will distribute millions in state and federal grant funds to arts organizations, schools, and other nonprofits that sponsor arts programs.

To be eligible for Arts Council funds, nonprofits must produce programs of artistic merit that encourage community involvement. Grants require that matching funds be raised by the applicant organization.

The Carolina Civic Center Foundation also utilizes a portion of the county’s GAP allotment as an administrative allowance.

The following organizations received funding for the 2008-2009 fiscal year:

— American Indian Mothers Inc., $3,800, for rural, community-based American Indian culture and arts program for youths not currently being served by school or tribally based art program.

— Center for Community Action, $3,800, for Earth Art Camp series of 10 one-day education and training camps for high school students and teachers that will expose and train them in various types and methods of artistic expression that are focused on utilizing natural resources in their own surroundings.

— Communities In Schools Academy of Robeson County, $2,850, for a two-week residency with African master percussionist Kwabena Osei Appiagyei teaching children traditional Ghanaian songs, stories and dance.

— Red Springs Arts Council, $2,921, to support various community activities, including the annual Street Festival, Opera Carolina’s production “Jack and the Bean Stalk” and the Regional High School Art Competition.

— Robeson Little Theatre, $2,850, for the production and performance of the musical “Dream Girls.”

— Robeson Road Runners, $1,330, for interactive art stations for children at the annual Chevy to the Levee Festival.

— The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Givens Performing Arts Center, $2,935, to support the Griffin Theatre Company’s production of “Letters Home” and the Kennedy Center’s production of “Nobody’s Perfect.”

— UNCP’s Native American Resource Center, $1,140, for Indian heritage activities, including storytelling sessions, visual artist and dance demonstrations, a powwow and traditional flute performances.

— Town of Fairmont/Farmers Festival, $2,527, for music, performers and ethnic arts and crafts at the annual Fairmont Farmers Festival.

— Town of Rowland/Celebrations Committee, $2,052, for performing and visual arts at both the annual Rowland Christmas Festival/Parade and the Springfest Art Show and Festival.

In addition to these allotments, the review panel also approved a $950 grant to the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County to support the NCAC’s Regional Artist Project Program, which provides financial support to local artists by funding a project intended to advance their professional career, to which Robeson County artists may apply.