About Stepping Up for Arts! -- A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Our Goal
Cultural enrichment and education are essential to the continued artistic enhancement and vitality of our community and our county. Our goals are to promote and support the arts in the communities of Brunswick County through art appreciation and educational opportunities.
Scholarships
We realize that available scholarships in fine arts are limited and we dedicate ourselves to ensuring that deserving Brunswick County students can pursue their craft. We have a proud history of awarding scholarships so these young adults may continue their studies in any field of art.
Go to the SUFA forms page to find out how to apply for an Arts Scholarship.
How We Accomplish This
We sponsor fund-raising and art appreciation activities in the Brunswick County community to help achieve our goals. These events may include: speaker series, workshops, plein air events, and cultural performances / exhibits at local venues in Brunswick County. We partner with many of the growing art communities and local businesses to expand art education in our county.
Helping our Schools
When educational budgets are reduced, the fine arts program is the first to be negatively impacted. To that end, we have helped Brunswick County schools provide an enhanced art program (music, dance, theater and visual arts) for its students through art supplies and materials, equipment and field trips. Our donations provide a wide variety of specialized program materials including software, weaving looms, painting supplies and other materials, as specified by the teachers and school administrators. We also welcome art teachers to participate at no cost in the variety of our art workshops.
Community Art Workshops
In addition, SUFA provides workshops for the community in its effort to expand art appreciation. These events are offered by professional artists including our own Artisans. Some examples of past events include: Landscape Photography, Acrylic, Oil and Watercolor Painting, Fresh Floral Design, and Marketing your Art through Website Design. County school teachers are invited "gratis" and are provided Continuing Education Credits.
How You Can Help
Private and public donations are an important part of our fund-raising effort and we rely heavily on the generosity of our community. Become a proud supporter of our program by purchasing a tote Bag at The Artisans Gallery on Howe, or at our programs, attend our events, and make a donation. Stepping Up for Arts is a certified non-profit, charitable organization and your contribution is tax deductible.
To Donate:
Make Checks Payable To: SUFA
Send your check to:
The Artisans Gallery on Howe (SUFA)
114 S. Howe Street
Southport, NC 28461
Or, click on the button below to make an online donation.
2022 Grants and Scholarships
SJ Service Club Awards Grant to SUFA
Very special THANKS to the St. James Service Club for awarding Stepping Up for Arts (SUFA) a generous Grant today June 8, 2022! This Grant will enable SUFA to continue to support the arts in Brunswick County Schools through education, scholarships, and teacher grants.
(Pictured: Nancy Adelis representing SUFA)
(Pictured: Nancy Adelis representing SUFA)
2022 Scholarship Winners
2021 Grants and Scholarships
2021 Teacher Grants Awarded
2021 Scholarship winners
Each year Stepping Up for Arts (SUFA) awards scholarships to deserving high school graduates who plan to pursue the Arts in college. SUFA is proud to present its two awesome 2021 Scholarship winners! Both of these amazing young women are graduating from South Brunswick High School.
Louisa Wren Whalen received a SUFA Fine Arts scholarship and will be attending UNC Greensboro. She will major in Music Education.
Ruby Clemmons received the Barbara Brewer Award and will be attending UNC Charlotte. She will major in Graphic Design.
CONGRATULATIONS to both! Thank you to all who support SUFA to make these scholarships possible!
Louisa Wren Whalen received a SUFA Fine Arts scholarship and will be attending UNC Greensboro. She will major in Music Education.
Ruby Clemmons received the Barbara Brewer Award and will be attending UNC Charlotte. She will major in Graphic Design.
CONGRATULATIONS to both! Thank you to all who support SUFA to make these scholarships possible!
2020 Grants and Scholarships
2020 Teacher Grants Awarded
The St. James Artisans’ charitable organization Stepping Up For Arts (SUFA) recently awarded grants to 4 Brunswick County public school teachers. Thanks to your generosity in supporting SUFA fundraising efforts, the following teachers received grants:
Nancy Miller, Bolivia Elementary - greeting card projects; Kathy Peck, Belville Elementary - glaze for ceramics; Theresa Reiter, Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary - landscape art; and
Casey Black, Cedar Grove Middle - band software.
SUFA also donated $1,000 for supplies. Due to COVID-19, each student must have his/her own art supplies, then they must be sanitized before the next class. These funds will allow teachers to purchase these supplies.
SUFA Announces 2020 Awards in Fine Art Scholarships
Stepping Up for Arts (SUFA) has a proud history of awarding multiple annual scholarships to deserving Brunswick County public school students who will continue their studies in any field of art in college. The group is honored to present 2020 SUFA Scholarships to the following fine young people: Jessica Fernandes, Early College High School; Audrey Abernethy, South Brunswick High; Anika Beecher, West Brunswick High; Rylee Cooper, West Brunswick High; and Katherine Tyson (Barbara Brewar Scholarship), rising college sophomore. Click here to read more about the students.
2019 Grants and Scholarships
2019 Grants
Christopher Cook from North Brunswick HS, whose band represented NC State at the National Independence Day Parade in Washington DC (see photo left) also received a grant for 2019. Visual Art teacher Heather Caldwell demonstrated the results of SUFA grant monies in her class's Mosaic Composition (see photoright) and received monies in 2019 to support Cedar Grove Middle School.
2016 Grants and Scholarships
2016 SUFA Scholarship Winner Shares Her Success
Luci Tramposch was awarded a Stepping Up for Arts scholarship in 2016. She graduated from Brunswick Early College High School. Luci attended UNC Chapel Hill. While in college, she majored in both Athletic Training and Dramatic Arts with a focus on theater and voice. Luci recently reached out to Nancy Adelis, former Artisans VP of SUFA, to share her success. In Luci’s words:
“Today, it became official! I received news that I passed the Board of Certification exam, and now, I am a Certified Athletic Trainer! I cannot believe this day is finally here. Proud to be Luci M. Tramposch, ATC!”
Congratulations, Luci! The Artisans and Stepping Up for Arts are so proud of you!
The Wizard of Oz – SUFA funded this project for Brunswick elementary and high school students
South Brunswick High School Vocal Group achieves Excellence in State Competition with support from SUFA
