Leaders of five local organizations gratefully accepted grants from the Illinois Arts Council on Tuesday when State Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, and the arts council's Carla Kunzeman played hosts to a presentation ceremony at the Vermilion County Museum.

Grant recipients were Danville Symphony Orchestra, Danville Light Opera, Vermilion Festival Chorus, Liberty Elementary School for its artist-in-residence program and the Danville Arts Council.

The latter re-grants the money it receives to local arts groups.

Kunzeman complimented the organizations for stretching their resources as far as they do.

"You triple the amount of money we give you," she said. "Arts people re-use and recycle."

She also commended Black for his arts advocacy in his hometown.

"Although funding for the arts isn't always popular due to budget cuts, support must be maintained for local organizations," Black said.

Alice Jacobs, president of Danville Area Community College, accepted the $15,590 DSO grant. Jacobs recently assumed the presidency of the symphony board.

She said Mary Miller, founder of the former Danville Junior College, also played an important role in the symphony's leadership years ago.

"This money will be used for general operations," Jacobs said of the grant. "Ticket sales alone do not cover our costs. We rely on private donations and grants.

"We're very grateful."

Lon Henderson said the $4,760 grant DLO received will help ensure the theater group's survival.

"We're beginning our 51st season with 'Chicago,'" he said. "We have no home of our own. We're able to continue due to support like this, as well as the support we get from DACC and District 118."

DLO uses stages at DACC and Danville High School for its musicals.

Vermilion Festival Chorus will use its $1,370 grant for administrative expenses, chorus member and grant writer Joan Frank said.

"Without the Illinois Arts Council, it would very rough for us to continue," she said.

Nanette Mellen, Danville District 118 superintendent, accepted the $2,880 grant for Liberty School. A guest artist, a dancer, will spend a month at the school.

"I remember when we wrote the very first grant for a dancer in 1975," she said. "That was when I was teaching P.E."

Mellen also attended the ceremony as a member of the DSO board. Jim Kouzmanoff represented the DSO foundation at the event.

Danville Arts Council received a grant of $7,200 to make the arts accessible in the community.

"The arts add tremendously to the quality of our lives," Black said.