POTSDAM -- The St. Lawrence County Arts Council has been awarded $1,500 from the Sweetgrass Foundation to provide reduced class fees for community classes and create an on-line artist directory.

$1,000 will go to the SLC Arts Academy Scholarship Fund to enable local children and adults with financial need to access classes on visual, performing, and literary arts throughout the year.

SLC Arts plans to begin offering reduced class fee opportunities for their community classes this spring after the grant funds are distributed.

Their current class schedule may be viewed at www.slcartscouncil.org. The financial assistance guidelines will be posted there when the funds become available.

The remaining $500 will assist SLC Arts with a website upgrade and development of an on-line artist directory. The directory would help local artists increase their web presence to promote their arts businesses and services on-line.

The directory will also have more interactive features providing community members and visitors to the North Country with background about local artists.

For more information about the programs and services SLC Arts provides, or to learn more about how you can contribute, contact SLC Arts at 265-6860, arts@slcartscouncil.org or visit www.slcartscouncil.org.