The Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester and Rochester Area Community Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2001 Community Arts Grants. Grants totaling $112,000 will be made to 47 nonprofit organizations and artists from Monroe and surrounding counties. Among the winners is Cool Kids in the Park 2001 for its innovative, 11-week summer series of free arts and cultural offerings to the public. Cool Kids Director, Steven Appleton, received the award in a ceremony at the Eisenhart Auditorium, Rochester Museum and Science Center on December 15, 2000.

"Cool Kids is all about bringing the arts and culture to kids, the communities in Western Monroe County," Appleton said.

Of the 97 grant applications reviewed, 47 were chosen. Each project was evaluated by peer review panelists on criteria that include artistic merit, outreach to under-served urban and rural communities, and responsiveness to community cultural needs. Cool Kids' award is $3,000.