ST. MARYS, OHIO (June 13, 2024) – In the lead up to America’s 250th anniversary, The Friends of the St. Marys Theater announced on Thursday it received a $7,500 Buckeye Impact Grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission for its upcoming project titled, “From Auglaize County to Hollywood: A Celebration of Two Early 20th Century Artists.” Being a recipient of the grant will allow for a weekend event at the St. Marys Theater honoring the literary and cinematic contributions of William K. Howard and Jim Tully. The program will consist of an educational and entertainment-filled weekend involving a silent movie with organ accompaniment provided by a world-renowned musician, reenacting a world premiere that was held at the St. Marys Theater in February of 1939, lectures, scholar performers portraying the life of Jim Tully and visual exhibits of illustrating Auglaize County life during the Howard and Tully's life here and in Hollywood.
“We are very excited and honored to be one of 61 community-based projects funded through the America 250-Ohio Commission’s second round of grants to honor and revive the literary and cinematic accomplishments of Jim Tully and William K. Howard. This award helps us promote our mission of restoring, preserving, and promoting the historic Saint Marys Theater and Grand Opera House transforming it into a vibrant performing arts center serving the greater Saint Marys community for generations to come with artistic and educational performances,” stated theater representative, Doug Spencer.
The Buckeye Impact Grants offer up to $50,000 for projects with a statewide, regional, or significant local impact. These projects may include significant exhibitions, regional commemorative activities, substantial digital and documentary media projects and signature public events.
“The America 250-Ohio Commission congratulates The Friends of the St. Marys Theater on this grant award. Their efforts in educating the public and honoring Ohio’s illustrious history are deeply appreciated,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “As we near America’s 250th anniversary, these projects will play an essential role in elevating our state’s history and bolstering our communities' efforts to execute impactful initiatives during such a monumental celebration.”
The Friends of the St. Marys Theater was one of the 61 recipients chosen from the more than 170 statewide applications during the grant program’s spring 2024 funding cycle. In total, America 250-Ohio, awarded approximately $600,000 in grants to communities and organizations across Ohio as part of the commission’s second funding cycle. Combined with the approximately $400,000 in grants awarded in January 2024, the America 250-Ohio Commission grants program has worked with Ohio Humanities to distribute $1 million in grants to 84 organizations across the state. The grant program was designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations and significance of all people in Ohio since before its founding to the present day. Themes identified for Ohio’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary programming include:
- Celebrations and Signature Events: Impacting tourism and economic development
- Ohio Originals: Highlighting points of pride and unity
- Engaging Youth and Lifelong Learners: Education and scholarship
- Inclusive Statewide Engagement: Museums, arts and culture
- Telling Ohio Stories: Highlighting stories of Ohioans past and present
For more information on The Friends of the St. Marys Theater, visit www.grandoperahouselive.com. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
About Ohio Humanities
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit our website at OhioHumanities.org.
