Women's Exchange gives back to the arts

Women’s Exchange will award $257,000 in grants and scholarships Thursday, June 6 through June 19 of Sarasota and Manatee counties local arts and cultural organization and to 32 students.

The board of directors chose recipients in April based on a few key guidelines. Students had to be pursuing higher education in the arts and the local community organization had to be involved in the arts as well. Students and organizations had to reside in Sarasota or Manatee County.

“The arts is what makes Sarasota such a special place and they need the help right now,” said CEO and Executive Director of the Women’s Exchange Karen Koblenz.

Grant recipients include Asolo Theatre, Inc., Players Theatre, Selby Gardens, Perlman Music, Florida Studio Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Orchestra, Van Wezel Foundation, Sarasota Film Society, Fuzion Dance Artists, Center for Building Hope , Realize Bradenton, Arts & Culture Alliance, Hermitage, Out-of-Door Academy, La Musica di Aslo and Gloria Musicae.

Scholarship recipients included Laura Alston, Christine Wozniak, Katya Young, Elizabeth Granowicz, Reed Tucker, Kyle Leicht, Bonnie Miller, Alyssa Dinka, Matthew Falgowski, Rachel Querreneld, Ashleigh Adamec, Kristen Bernier, Aaron Lappin, Anthony DeNiro, Jonathan Sams, Cassandra Lima, Gabriella Guinta, Retley Locke, Mona Pirnot, Tristan L’Heureux, Claudia Rightmire, Elizabeth Pupke, Nicole Fattorusso, Shannon Cantalupo, Christianna D’Amico, Kathryn Huxtable, Hannah Morris, Amber Meyers, Katy Knowles, Hannah Gregory, Nicole Morris and Nick L’Heureux.