CONTACT: Rebecca Robinson
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555
or 512-350-4621
robinson@winefoodfoundation.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The
Wine and Food Foundation of Texas awards grant
for high tech food education program
AUSTIN,
Texas – (September 25,
2007) The
Wine and Food Foundation of Texas recently awarded a $2,500.00
development grant to the Mexic-carte Museum in Austin as a part
of the Foundation’s annual competitive grant awards program.
Founded in 1984 by three Mexican artists, the Mexic-Arte museum
is one of only four museums in the United States dedicated to
Mexican and Mexican American art. The Foundation development
grant will further the research, design, development and production
of a new digital educational program for children entitled, Gift
of the Gods.
Gifts of the Gods is an interactive web-based educational
program designed to educate children about the history and ancestry
of Mexican American cuisine. Through web links and 'Pachyderm',
an easy to use multimedia authoring tool, children will be able
to collaborate and create a cookbook.
Starting in the spring of 2008, it will be available to most
schools, libraries, and youth centers and will provide them with
the capacity to utilize three eight-week classes in schools throughout
the entire year. The collaboration will inspire students to learn,
collaborate and create an artistic cookbook that will provide
students with fascinating stories and history about their ancestors
and the respect they had for important foods, such as corn, beans,
chiles and potatoes.
The Executive Director of the Mexic-Arte Museum Sylvia Orozco
comments on the importance of Mexican cuisine to the Mexic-Arte
museum and the Gift of Gods program, “Food is
an ethical part of our Mexican culture and a form of artistic
expression using the native foods. With corn, squash, and beans
we paint our foods. “
The
Wine & Food Foundation is a statewide
charity that promotes innovation, education and research in
the culinary and viticulture arts. The Grant Award Program
was created by the Foundation in 2005 as a way to fulfill this
mission. Up to $25,000 is available annually and all Texas
residents, businesses, or organizations are eligible as long
as programs are educational in nature and wine or food related.
Now in the beginning of its third year, over $100,000.00 has
been awarded for wine and food education and research. Other
grant recipients this year include Ed Hellman, PhD, with the
Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Tech University, receiving
$20,0000.00 for renovation of a viticulture research laboratory,
and Jane Nickles with the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin who
was awarded $5,000.00 for the development of a wine and food
pairing guide and workshop.
J.
Buckner Hightower, President of the Foundation commented on
the program, “The grant award program is
a cornerstone in our efforts to make a positive impact on the
culinary and viticulture arts in Texas communities. The Mexic-Arte
museum certainly is accomplishing that goal. The Gift of the Gods program
highlights respect for diversity in food cultures and we are
proud to be a part of its development.”
Past
Foundation grants include the Sustainable Food Center in Austin,
which coordinates the Austin Farmer’s Market; a
children’s bilingual nutrition pilot, Papi’s
Kitchen, and also the development of a national web-based
system used by grape growers and researchers for diagnosis of
grapevine diseases. The Foundation also awarded $25,000.00 to
KLRU-TV for the production of a film documentary produced by
award-winning producer and director Tom Spencer, The Wine
Roads of Texas.
The
Foundation will accept applications for the 2008 grant cycle
beginning in early December of this year. Applications will
be available on the Foundation’s website www.winefoodfoundation.org.
Donations and memberships to the Foundation can also be submitted
via the Foundation website or by calling the Foundation directly
at (512) 327-7555.
The Mexic-Arte Museum- The Mexic-Arte Museum
is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the
presentation and promotion of traditional and contemporary Mexican,
Latino, and Latin American art and culture. The Mexic-Arte Museum
contributes to the education, engagement and empowerment of all
people by sharing the artistry and treasures of the Mexican heritage.
Each year, hundreds of Austin and Central Texas youth, families,
schools, groups, organizations and artists are enriched by Mexic-Arte
Museum exhibits, education programs and cultural events
512-480-9373 www.mexic-artemuseum.org.
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas-
The Wine & Food
Foundation of Texas is a public charity dedicated to recognizing
and developing creativity, professionalism and state-of-the-science
research in all areas of the culinary and viticulture arts. Created
in 1997, the Foundation provides grants, scholarships and fellowships
to outstanding individuals and other entities that achieve excellence
in these areas www.winefoodfoundation.org.
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