Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation Grant Program
Inspiring Young Artists. Empowering Creative Classrooms.
✨ About the Grant Program
The Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation is thrilled to announce a new grant opportunity available to local schools in support of fin
e arts education.
Eligible schools include:
- Big Foot High School
- Walworth J1
- Fontana J8
- Reek Elementary
- Sharon Community School
Grants are available annually to enhance student experiences in:
Drama • Art • Music • Photography • Dance
…and other disciplines considered part of the fine arts.
💵 Grant Details
- Maximum Grant Amount: Up to $500
- Selection Criteria Includes:
- Number of students impacted
- Connection to curriculum
- Long-term value of equipment or materials
- Funding availability is subject to the Foundation’s annual budget.
📅 Important Dates
| 📌 Task | 🗓️ Date |
|---|---|
| Application Sent To Schools | Mid-September 2025 |
| Application Deadline | October 15, 2025 |
| Award Notifications Sent | By November 15, 2025 |
Grant application forms will be emailed directly to teachers and administrators.
📬 Contact
Have questions? Reach out to us at: bigfootfinearts.grants@gmail.com
💡 About the Foundation
The Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation supports performances, programs, events, and unique educational opportunities tied to the Big Foot Union High School District and its Recreation District.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation is funded by community donations and is dedicated to enriching local students’ education through the power of the arts.
Congrats to our
’25-’26 Season Grant Recipients!
Susan Gali, Reek Elementary School
Susan Gali, choral and general music teacher, is the director of the Reek Elementary School musical. This year, Reek will present Alice in Wonderland, with performances at the Big Foot High School Performing Arts Center. The musical will feature a cast of more than 60 students in grades 4 through 8. Presenting such a large production is expensive, and double-casting roles requires more costumes, as does the large number of students who participate in the musical.
The $500 grant from the Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation will be used to fund costumes for the
current musical and future productions.
Andrew McCanna, Fontana School
Andrew McCanna, art teacher, leads the Fontana Film Club. The film club began in 2023 as an after-school activity that would be shared with the community. The first film produced was “Klay Kong” (2024). This was a monster movie that employed claymation and other practical eUects. Students experienced acting, improvisation, stop motion, and claymation. This film featured 10 middle school students in the main cast and 11 elementary-grade students as extras. The 2025 film “Super Falcon” was a humorous take on the superhero genre. For this production, students applied the same skills learned in “Klay Kong,” added puppetry, drone footage, chroma key (green screen) suits, and even had 2 professional Hollywood stuntmen (Creative Action Arts) visit to choreograph combat sequences. This production grew to include 16 middle school main cast members and 54 elementary extras.
Fontana Film Club is currently producing its 3rd feature, “Modzilla” which is a sequel to Klay Kong. New technology, such as underwater cameras and wireless microphones are necessary for this production. “Modzilla” has a cast of 32 main members. Another large group of extras is expected this year as well. Film Club continues to grow exponentially in participation, ambition, and quality.
Each movie promotes local businesses within the story and features prominent citizens in the cast, including the police department and the village president. Following the premiere of the films, which are screened in the Fontana School Gymnasium, DVDs are produced and made available for sale to the community.
Fontana Film Club’s movies have competed in film festivals and won 1st place in the Young Filmmaker category at the Chocolate City International Short Film Festival (2024). The Film Club’s movie was also featured in the American Horrors Film Festival (2024) and won Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Cinematography, and Outstanding Special EUects in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Film Festival (2025).
The $500 Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation grant will be used for costumes, props, and sets.
Angela Jacoby, Nikki McGuire, Adam Smith – Fontana School
A team of educators is leading the school musical program, aiming to build a thriving theater program. Angela Jacoby, instrumental music; Adam Smith, choral music; and Nikki McGuire, school social worker, are guiding this program now in its 4th year of development.
The theater program provides students with the full experience of participating in a high quality musical production, one that nurtures creativity, builds confidence, and fosters collaboration.
At present, this growing program operates with minimal resources and no dedicated budget. The funds for this grant will be used for costumes, set pieces, props and wireless mics. Costumes help bring the story and characters to life in a visually compelling and professional way. Set pieces and props are essential for creating a believable world on stage and enhancing the overall production. Wireless mics for leading roles are important for the audience experience and student performers’ ability to be heard clearly.
The $500 Big Foot Community Fine Arts Foundation grant will provide support and elevate the quality of the productions, providing students with a realistic experience in the world of musical theater. The grant will lay a foundation for future shows, enabling the theater department to become a lasting and impactful part of the school’s culture for years to come.