CLEVELAND, Tenn. (July 11, 2008)—The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber Foundation has received its largest-ever matching grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission for “Evening Shade” for Fiscal Year 2009.

For the past 13 seasons the Allied Arts Council (AAC) of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce has applied for and received matching grant assistance to help provide Evening Shade concerts free of charge to the community as part of the Chamber’s community development efforts.

“The Tennessee Arts Commission has awarded us our largest-ever matching grant in the amount of $6,320,” Nancy Neal, director of communications, said. “Each year we eagerly await notification of the grant monies and are thrilled about the increased funding for 2009. Our talent lineup has increased in name recognition through the years, and this newest grant, along with local corporate sponsorships, will allow us to continue providing quality entertainment in downtown Johnston Park each Friday night in May 2009.”

AAC member Connie Gatlin has written the grant and defended it in Nashville the past 13 years.

Evening Shade concerts have brought to the park such artists as Karen Peck and New River, Doyle Dykes, The Dexter Thomas Band, The Hoskins Family, Karen Mills, Black Diamond Heavies, Valley Grass Express, Dixieland Jazz Band, the Jim Wilson Jazz Quartet, Call to Worship, Smoke on the Mountain, Doug Richesin, Lovell Sisters Band, Buddy Greene, the Annie Moses Band, Flashback, Farr Horizon, the Cluster Pluckers and the “world’s best young Elvis.”

In addition, many representatives from the local talent pool have appeared on the Johnston Park stage, including the Alan Wyatt & Friends, Cleveland Community Band, Lisa Williams as Patsy Cline, Mercy’s Bridge, Tennessee Harmony, Heartstrings, and local elementary, middle and high school musicians.

The overall goal of the Community Development division of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce is to “enhance the quality of life in our community.”

“One of the ways we do this,” Neal explained, “is by educating the community regarding the value of the arts in our quality of life and by promoting and support the local arts community. We take that a step further by providing quality cultural programs for the Cleveland/Bradley County community like Evening Shade in a family-friendly concert venue.”

She continued, “We appreciate the continued support of the Tennessee Arts Commission, which in turn is supported by the governor and Tennessee General Assembly in fulfilling its mission that the citizens of Tennessee have access to and participate in the arts.”

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