The Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities has announced its final Small Grant and Artist Fellowship Grant round for 2006. Awarded three times a year, the grants program helps working artists fund their art projects and continue their art education. TCAH has awarded over $150,000 since its inception as part of the Small Grant and Artists Fellowship awards.

TCAH recognizes that local working artists are vital to the quality of life in the region and these grants help further artists and art-related programs in our county.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Telluride Commission for Community Assistance, Arts and Special Events, the Telluride Foundation, and local grants from the Town of Mountain Village and San Miguel County, TCAH has been able to fund local and county working artists for quite some time," said executive director Renee Marr.

This round of Small Grants and Artist Fellowships is special for yet another reason – a scholarship for studio space in the Stronghouse Studios artist cooperative is being offered for the first time. In addition to the $1,000 Small Grant awards and the $500 Artist Fellowship awards, this scholarship will provide working studio space in a creative atmosphere as part of the Stronghouse Studios cooperative. A great incubator for up and coming artists, and working artists needing another space away from home, Stronghouse has been providing a creative space since its inception last December.

Any artist living and/or producing art in Telluride or San Miguel County may apply for the November grant cycle. Monies may be used for project funding or to further one's artistic education. All details, eligibility requirements and application materials are available on the organization's website, www.telluridearts.org, by clicking on "Grants." The deadline for applications is Monday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with Marr before submitting their final application.

TCAH is supported by the Telluride Commission for Community Assistance, Arts and Special Events; Colorado Council on the Arts; Telluride Foundation; and local grants from the Town of Mountain Village and San Miguel County. For more information about TCAH or Stronghouse Studios, call 728-3930 or visit www.telluridearts.org.