The Gilchrist Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to Morningside College to help fund the 2015-16 season of the college’s Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series.

The Gilchrist Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to Morningside College to help fund the 2015-16 season of the college’s Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series.

According to Randy Peters, artistic director for the Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series, the grant enables Morningside to continue providing high quality music and theatre performances and lectures at no cost to Sioux City area residents.

“Since the series’ expansion to year-round and with the support of the Gilchrist Foundation, we have been able to double the number of events for the public,” Peters said. “The foundation has given us the opportunity to bring in professional artists and speakers that Siouxland would not have the opportunity to see and hear.”

Peters said the remainder of the Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series for 2015 includes the Reggie Schive Big Band concert on Oct. 30 and the Christmas at Morningside concert on Dec. 4. The college also will present the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera “The Pirates of Penzance” Feb. 26, 27 and 28, 2016.

“The Gilchrist Foundation is pleased to partner with Morningside College in bringing free, quality music and theatre performances to the campus and the community,” said Marilyn Hagberg, vice president and trust officer at Security National Bank, which oversees the Gilchrist Foundation trust. “We are especially delighted with the expansion of the Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series and the development of partnerships with other arts organizations.”

The Gilchrist Foundation furthers the philanthropy of the late Jocelyn Gilchrist, and her family, in the arts, wildlife, conservation, public broadcasting and disaster relief. The foundation makes grants to pre-selected non-profit organizations.