Alabama arts organizations awarded $965,025 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
MONTGOMERY, Ala., (May 12, 2021) — The National Endowment for the
Arts (NEA) announced
today that it has awarded grants totaling
$965,025 to seven Alabama arts organizations, including Alabama State Council
on the Arts. These funds will support the arts in areas such as cultural
tourism, community revitalization, economic development, education, and health
and human services. In addition, the NEA works in partnership with the Council
on the Arts to ensure that the people of Alabama have access to the arts. The
Council’s grant of $835,025 helps to support projects throughout Alabama.
“As the country and the arts sector begin to work towards
a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to fund the
work of our partners,” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “These agreements,
such as the one to Alabama State Council on the Arts, leverage federal funds
for regional, state, and local impact, reinforcing the network of support that
is vital for a healthy arts ecosystem.”
“The
arts and cultural community across the state of Alabama has endured an
extraordinary time of disruption and challenge,” said Council Chair Jim
Harrison III. “We are
pleased to be able to provide and administer this generous act of support from
the National Endowment for the Arts.”
Federal
funds, combined with additional funding appropriated by the Alabama
Legislature, enable the Council to annually award over 300 grants to
approximately 250 organizations and individuals throughout Alabama. The return
on investment is significant and helps leverage additional funding from
individuals and the private sector. Businesses considering a move into Alabama
seek an active and vibrant arts community. Research has proven that artistic
exposure and involvement stimulates minds and offers different methods of
solving problems. Every grant that Alabama makes at the state level reflects the
national effort to make the arts available to all our citizens. The Council on
the Arts is proud to work with its federal partner, expanding the benefit of
the arts.
“Support
from the National Endowment for the Arts is vital to enriching Alabama’s
communities and expanding the quality of life for its citizens,” added Dr.
Elliot Knight, the Council’s Executive Director. “As arts organizations across
the state safely reopen and return to in-person operations, Alabama will
greatly benefit from this federal investment in the arts.”
In
addition to applying for grants offered by the Council, we encourage arts
organizations throughout Alabama to stay informed about the National Endowment
for the Arts grant programs and submit applications directly to the NEA to seek
support for future projects and endeavors.
Here is the list of Alabama
grants recently announced by the NEA:
Alabama’s number of grants:
8 Total Dollar Amount:
$965,025
Create Birmingham (Birmingham, AL)
$10,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Local
Arts Agencies
Fantasy Playhouse Children’s
Theater (Huntsville, AL)
$15,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Theater
Alabama Folklife Association,
Inc. (Mobile, AL)
$20,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Folk
& Traditional Arts
Mobile Symphony, Inc. (Mobile, AL)
$15,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Music
Alabama State Council on the
Arts (Montgomery, AL)
$835,025
Partnerships
(State & Regional) - To support arts
programs, services, and activities associated with carrying out the agency’s
NEA-approved strategic plan.
Alabama State University (Montgomery, AL)
$10,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Folk
& Traditional Arts
University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
$10,000
Grants for Arts Projects - Musical
Theater
University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
$50,000
Our Town (Creative Placemaking) –
Design
For more details on the projects
included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
For more information about Alabama
State Council on the Arts, visit arts.alabama.gov.
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About
the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA
is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the
opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and
develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts
agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector,
the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s
rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal
access to the arts in every community across America.
About Alabama State Council on the Arts
The Council on the
Arts is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts
in Alabama. The Council works to expand and preserve the state's cultural
resources by supporting nonprofit arts organizations, schools, colleges, units
of local government, and individual artists. Arts programs, assisted by Council
grants, have a track record of enhancing community development, education,
cultural tourism, and overall quality of life in all regions of the state.
Alabama State Council on the Arts receives an annual appropriation from the
Alabama Legislature and additional funds from the National Endowment for the
Arts, a federal agency.
Press contact:
Perri Hubbard
Communications & Public Relations
334.242.5153
perri.hubbard@arts.alabama.gov