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South Carolina to benefit from $1.1 million in NEA funding

Yesterday, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) made its second major grant announcement of FY23, encompassing more than $103 million in recommended grants.

Organizations in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions will carry out arts projects in three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnerships. “The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a wide range of projects, demonstrating the many ways the arts enrich our lives and contribute to healthy and thriving communities,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “These organizations play an important role in advancing the creative vitality of our nation and helping to ensure that all people can benefit from arts, culture, and design.” The NEA provided examples of each grant, which The Hub is providing below. Among the grantees, the South Carolina Arts Commission, city of Charleston, and Watering Hole Poetry are receiving funding that totals $1,127,400.

Grants for Arts Projects

  • Next application deadline: Thursday, July 6
Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) is the National Endowment for the Arts’ largest grants program for organizations. Matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000, and are recommended for organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. In July 2022, 1,927 eligible applications were received requesting more than $98 million in FY23 support. This round, 1,129 projects are approved for funding totaling more than $31 million. Project-based funding will support opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, the integration of the arts with strategies that promote the health and well-being of people and communities, and the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Through this grant category, the NEA provides comprehensive and expansive funding for communities across a variety of artistic disciplines and fields. Recommended grants this round support a range of activities. Two entities in South Carolina received this funding:
  • The city of Charleston received a $40,000 grant to support the creation of public art and the preservation of existing cultural assets.
  • Watering Hole Poetry in Columbia was granted $15,000 in support of a writing retreat and online craft talks.
Others nationally include:
  • The commission of a site-specific public artwork by artist Kehinde Wiley (b. 1977) by Association for Public Art (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)—The artist will create a large bronze sculpture for the city of Philadelphia which will be located on its main cultural artery, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The creation of the work will address the city's need for diverse voices and perspectives in public spaces.
  • A technical theater workforce development program at THEARC Theater through Building Bridges Across the River (Washington, DC)—Participants will learn the art and science of technical theater and acquire skills in lighting, sound engineering, set design, stage management, and arts administration.
  • Photography and the Holocaust: Then & Now, an exhibition and accompanying publication by Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts (Buffalo, New York) —The project will feature as many as 15 artists whose work utilizes historic photo-documents, archival materials, and new imagery to investigate photographic evidence and explore the role of personal perspective in interpreting images. Public programming will provide audiences with opportunities to address issues of antisemitism.
  • Engagement in outdoor arts programming, artist residencies, and public programs by Indigenous Creatives Collective (Seattle, Washington)—Comprising works by resident Indigenous artists knowledgeable about Native ecological systems, multidisciplinary arts programming will include an exhibition and other public arts events hosted on the organization’s wooded property in South Seattle.
  • The Appalachian Teaching Artist Fellowship by Partners for Rural Impact, Inc. (Berea, Kentucky)—Teaching artists in rural Eastern Kentucky will participate in paid professional learning opportunities, including workshops, a mentorship, and a teaching practicum. Workshops will include training in arts integration, development of standards-aligned lesson plans, and best practices for successful school and community arts partnerships in the rural Appalachian context.
  • The creation and presentation of enVISION: The Next Chapter, an immersive dance-theater work by ShaLeigh Dance Works (Rougemont, North Carolina)—The performance will be accessible to sighted audiences and to people who are blind or have low vision. Accompanying engagement programs will train local dancers to accompany movers who are blind or have low vision to dance classes and help other organizations learn best practices to replicate the program across North Carolina while documenting the process.
  • An interactive touring exhibition program of Space Messengers by STEMarts Lab (El Prado, New Mexico)—An initiative exploring the intersection of arts and science using new media technologies, with a focus on students from Northern New Mexico, will introduce audiences to video mapping, virtual reality design, and sound design, while exploring science concepts and examining complex ethical impacts of new technologies.
  • In-person and online workshops for writers at all stages of their careers by Torch Literary Arts (Round Rock, Texas) —The project will focus on creating advancement opportunities for Black women writers, as well as a retreat where participants can share ideas and receive professional advice while working on a manuscript in progress.
The next deadline for organizations interested in applying for Grants for Arts Projects is Thursday, July 6, 2023; visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources.

Our Town

  • Next application deadline: Thursday, August 3
Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Our Town projects advance local economic, physical, or social outcomes in communities, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change and centering equity. Matching grants in this category range from $25,000 to $150,000 and support projects that will take place in 34 states. Of the 175 eligible applications, 57 projects are approved for funding totaling $4,175,000. Our Town projects require a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Project-based funding will support activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities. Recommended grants include:
  • The City of Wheeling, West Virginia—to support the development of an arts and culture master plan. In partnership with ARTWORKS around Town, Inc., the City of Wheeling will work with area stakeholders to produce an arts and culture master plan that includes a cultural asset map, a regional tourism assessment, a wayfinding signage plan and design, and an action plan for the creation of a new cultural district, gathering input from community members. Building on a $25 million-dollar award from the state's department of transportation, the city plans to connect community members to area cultural assets, elevate civic engagement opportunities, and align investments in arts and culture with current infrastructure development in Wheeling.
  • Clockshop in Los Angeles, California—to support community engagement activities and cultural asset mapping to influence the design and engineering of 100 acres of parkland along the Los Angeles River. In collaboration with the University of Southern California's Los Angeles River Integrated Design Lab, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Park system, and the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering, Clockshop will facilitate the inclusion of community histories into the development of the River Futures Model, a 60-foot hydraulic model of the Los Angeles River.
  • Epicenter in Green River, Utah—to support engagement activities and temporary art and design installations that address affordable housing and downtown revitalization in rural Green River, Utah. Epicenter will invite as many as six artists and designers to collaborate with community stakeholders on temporary art and design installations, concepts for public spaces and cultural facilities, and affordable housing design ideas. Led by Epicenter’s in-house design team and building on local planning efforts, the project will highlight Epicenter’s Canal Commons, a new affordable housing complex under development on a three-acre parcel downtown which was donated by the town of Green River, Utah.
  • The Town of Killingly, Connecticut—to support community engagement, arts programming, and public art that celebrates the local Laotian and Southeast Asian community. Project activities will include the creation of a mural and a short documentary film focused on uplifting local residents and their stories, along with musical performances and other arts activities that center Laotian culture. Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society, Killingly Public Library, Killingly Business Association, and Laos Cultural Community of Connecticut will engage residents and high school students in collecting local stories and producing cultural programming.
The next deadline for organizations interested in applying for Our Town is Thursday, August 3, 2023; visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources. More information about all of the National Endowment for the Arts’ grant opportunities is available at arts.gov/grants. This section also includes resources for first-time and returning applicants as well as information on how to volunteer to be an NEA panelist.

State and Regional Partnerships (like the SCAC)

Each year, approximately 40 percent of the NEA’s appropriated program funds are awarded to state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, and the national service organization to support the work of the states and regions. In total, up to $67.9 million is recommended for these partners in FY 2023, with up to $55.1 million of that total designated for State Arts Agencies—of which the SCAC is one. The agency will receive $1,072,400 to further its work of promoting equitable access to the arts and supporting the cultivation of creativity on behalf of South Carolina residents and visitors. State & Regional Partnership Agreement grants extend the NEA’s reach to even more communities, reflecting investments in locally-determined priorities, and translate national leadership into local benefit. To learn more about how the National Endowment for the Arts is impacting individual states and regions of the country, select a state or territory on the state impact page or visit the regional map.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts 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. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Jason Rapp

Biennial rural design, planning program open for applications

Strengthening rural communities through CIRD

NEW APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2023

Every two years, the National Endowment for the Arts seeks rural communities of 50,000 people or less to apply for the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) program.

With over 30 years of leadership in rural design, CIRD is perfect for creative, community-oriented rural leaders seeking to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in their communities. Selected applicants emerge from CIRD programs with greater capacity and a wealth of resources to lead their community through current and future design challenges. “Access to design ideas and support for creative placemaking practices through the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design help set communities on a path towards achieving their visions,” said Jennifer Hughes, NEA’s Senior Advisor to the Chair on Partnerships, Expansion, and Innovation. “I’m inspired by the eager and agile leaders across rural America whose participation in the program shows energy and commitment to bold visions for their community’s future.” Well-designed rural communities are places where people want to live and invest in the future. Each community knows their needs best. From small projects like murals or pocket parks to larger initiatives like creating a downtown revitalization district, the community guides the notion of good design. Design strategies may include:
  • Historic preservation and adaptive reuse of community buildings
  • Designing quality affordable housing that supports livable, equitable communities
  • Creating public or civic spaces that support and integrate cultural expression and local identity
  • Developing recreational trails for mobility, active transportation, and economic development
  • Designing spaces and places that improve access to healthy food and local food systems
  • Integrating cultural identity into the built environment to drive heritage tourism
There are two opportunities to choose from:

Local Design Workshops

At least four communities will be selected to do a deep dive into a pressing design challenge that is impacting their community. With support from a wide range of design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals, workshops help small towns and rural and tribal communities develop actionable solutions to specific design challenges. Following the workshop, each community receives a customized design book and action plan created by the CIRD resource team that includes project-specific design and planning recommendations. Read about past workshops.

Design Learning Cohort

At least 15 communities will be selected to participate in virtual training in design, planning, community engagement, and facilitation techniques. Resources will include technical assistance, one-on-one coaching, and optional in-person convenings. There will also be tailored opportunities for active peer learning to share best practices and experiences. Each community will receive support in navigating funding opportunities to make their vision a reality. Read about the Design Learning Cohort.

Applicants must:
  • Be part of a rural or tribal community of 50,000 or less, that is rural in character
  • Identify a specific design challenge to address through the CIRD program
  • Be able to participate in CIRD as indicated in Participation Expectations described in the Request for Applications
  • If selected for a workshop, plan the workshop with CIRD staff during the designated period of programming
Details about the program goals, eligibility, benefits, expectations, and a preview of all the application questions can be found in the Request for Applications. ‍You can also go directly to the application in Survey Monkey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cird2023 Successful applicants will be notified in late May 2023 and CIRD Cohort Kickoff Meeting will be on June 21, 2023. Project activities will take place between June 2023 and December 2024. For questions, please contact cird@ruralhome.org
About Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council. The program has design support from To Be Done Studio. Focusing on communities with populations of 50,000 or less, CIRD’s goal is to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of rural America through planning, design, and creative placemaking. National Endowment for the Arts Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts 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. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit that helps rural communities build a better future. Based in Washington, HAC provides below-market financing, capacity building, research and information, and policy formulation to support affordable housing and community development across rural America. For more information, visit www.ruralhome.org. TBD (To Be Done Studio) harnesses the inherent goodness in people and the power of design to create sustainable solutions to the endemic problems that our world faces. We seek a relevant practice, one which is accessible to all rather than the few. To do so, we design and build spaces that uplift, inspire and support power within the communities we work. For more information, visit http://tbd-studio.org.

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S.C. high schoolers reach state Poetry Out Loud finals

State finals scheduled for March 4 in Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Six South Carolina high school students earned the right to compete in March to see who’s best at the recitation and performance of poetry, then represent the state in a national competition.

The South Carolina Arts Commission coordinates Poetry Out Loud in South Carolina, partnering with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to bring the competition to the state’s high school students. The program seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry—recitation and performance. Program Coordinator Bonita Peeples introduced a new structure to the 2022/2023 competition that blended the traditional, in-person approach with the more recent virtual competitions caused by the pandemic. Schools who registered held in-person competitions locally while individual students who registered performed virtually in front of judges who named finalists. [caption id="attachment_49532" align="alignright" width="199"] Emily Allison. Provided photo.[/caption] The finalists this year come from Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Spartanburg:
  • Emily Allison, junior, Fine Arts Center (Greenville), the 2021 and 2022 state champion
  • Meenakshi Balachandran, senior, Calvary Christian School (Myrtle Beach)
  • Eve Decker, freshman, Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg)
  • Jessie Johnson, junior, Charleston County School of the Arts (Charleston)
  • Ella McCall, sophomore, Ashley Hall (Charleston)
  • Catherine Wooten, junior, Westgate Christian School (Spartanburg)
Judging the individual student competition were Paul Kaufmann, an actor an South Carolina Arts Commission Fellow in acting who was accuracy judge; Kimberly Simms Gibbs, poet and founder of Carolina Poets and Wits’ End Poetry in Greenville; and Al Black, a poet who is also host of numerous workshops and arts events in the Midlands. Thomas Maluck, Richland Library teen services librarian, was the prompter. The next step for the six finalists is the state finals competition on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 3 p.m. The finals return to an in-person format for the first time since 2019 and will be held at the Richland Library Main Branch (1431 Assembly St., Columbia). The state finals champion will receive a $200 prize and get to represent South Carolina in the national finals competition in Washington May 5-8, 2023 for the chance to win a $20,000 first prize. Find out more about the national competition here.

About the South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences. A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @scartscomm on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for #Arts4SC and #SCartists content.
South Carolina Arts Commission News Release, Media Contact: Jason L. Rapp, Communications Director. jrapp@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8899

Jason Rapp

Tuesday was a big day for grant announcements

S.C. arts orgs, one artist benefit from NEA, South Arts funding

Within hours of each other yesterday, the National Endowment for the Arts and regional arts organization South Arts made their first 2023 grant announcements that will find an artist and several arts organizations in South Carolina.

The NEA went first, announcing more than $34 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the first of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, and Research Awards categories. This announcement also includes grants to individuals for Literature Fellowships in creative writing (poetry) and translation. Evelyn Berry, a writer from Aiken, was among those latter awards, getting a creative writing fellowship of $25,000. Additional grants awarded in South Carolina include:
  • Coker University in Hartsville (Grants for Arts Projects - Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works; $10,000)
  • Colour of Music, Inc. in Mount Pleasant (Grants for Arts Projects - Music; $10,000)
  • Hub City Writers Project in Spartanburg (Grants for Arts Projects - Literary Arts; $35,000)
  • Puppetry Arts Theatre in Charleston (aka Tuffy Tiger Productions) in Ravenel (Challenge America; $10,000)
  • Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston (Grants for Arts Projects - Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works; $10,000)
  • Trustus, Inc. in Columbia (Grants for Arts Projects - Theatre; $10,000)
  • Warehouse Theatre (aka Greenville Community Warehouse Theatre) in Greenville (Challenge America; $10,000)
“Together, these grants show the NEA’s support nationwide for strengthening our arts and cultural ecosystems, providing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and contributing to the health of our communities and our economy,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “I encourage everyone to explore these projects and the ways they help provide inspiration, understanding, and opportunities for us to live more artful lives.” The full list of recommended grants is available in a state-by-state listing and organized by grant category/discipline. Additional information about the projects can be found using the NEA’s Grant Search.
By afternoon, it was South Arts' turn, making (rightful) hay over 16 new Cross-Sector Impact Grant recipients for 2023. These organizations are each receiving up to $15,000 to support "arts and..." projects developed by partners—one arts organization or artist, and one non-arts organization—harnessing the power of collaboration. Vaughn Newman Dance of Greenville is the lone South Carolina recipient. Cross-Sector Impact Grants are offered each year as part of South Arts' portfolio of programming to support artists, arts organizations, and communities across the south. These projects support collaborative efforts that connect the arts with non-arts aspects of local communities.
Got arts news? Remember to submit it to The Hub! Got arts events? Listings are free on the only statewide arts calendar—Arts Daily!

Jason Rapp

President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities gets new leader

Tsione Wolde-Michael, most recently the founding director of the Smithsonian’s Center for Restorative History, has been named executive director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Under a new Executive Order issued by President Biden, PCAH has been established to engage the nation’s artists, humanities scholars, and cultural heritage practitioners on ways to promote excellence in the arts, the humanities, and museum and library services and demonstrate their relevance to the country’s health, economy, equity, and civic life. Wolde-Michael, the youngest and first Black individual to direct PCAH, will lead a high-profile committee of 25 non-federal leaders in the arts, humanities, and museum and library services, expected to be named by the White House in the coming weeks. Under her direction, the committee will advise the president on policy objectives, public/private partnerships, and programs to enhance support for the arts, humanities, and museum and library services across the country—a first, since 2017. “I’ve spent my career as a public historian launching large-scale projects from the ground up and working to transform understandings of our nation’s past,” said Wolde-Michael. “President Biden’s new executive order supports telling a fuller, more expansive American story through the arts and humanities; it recognizes that these areas are essential to the vitality of our democracy while centering equity, accessibility, and the inclusion of historically underserved communities in an unprecedented way. I look forward to applying my experience to ensure that PCAH reflects that strong vision.” Wolde-Michael will use her vast experience bringing marginalized voices into public dialogue to lead strategy and engagement for PCAH, while working with the Institute of Museum and Library and Services (IMLS) Director Crosby Kemper, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly C. Lowe. “The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to welcome Tsione Wolde-Michael to the federal arts and humanities family,” said NEA Chair Jackson. “We look forward to working with her and PCAH to strengthen our nation’s arts and cultural ecosystems, ensuring that the arts continue to contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and communities.” Wolde-Michael began her career at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she was part of a team that produced the landmark inaugural exhibition Slavery and Freedom–the nation’s first comprehensive exhibit on the history of enslavement. Her international projects include “The Slave Wrecks Project” and working with national and local museums to reinterpret colonial collections. Most recently as the curator of African American Social Justice History, she developed a theory and method for museum practice grounded in the principles of restorative justice. This work helped the Smithsonian National Museum of American History diversify its collections and exhibitions and establish long-term community partnerships and led to the establishment of the Center for Restorative History—the Smithsonian’s first center dedicated exclusively to community-based redress work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in women and gender studies from Macalester College and a master’s degree in history from Harvard University. Her position will be hosted at IMLS.

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Supporting people of color shaping arts advocacy

NALAC opens Advocacy Leadership Institute applications

Today, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures opens a call for applications for the 2023 NALAC Advocacy Leadership Institute.

The NALAC Advocacy Leadership Institute is a two-month virtual program that culminates with a three-day intensive held in Washington. The intensive will include sessions on Capitol Hill and with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, and various Smithsonian Institutions. Through the NALAC ALI, participants are equipped with necessary tools to communicate effectively with elected officials, lead proactive efforts in their own communities, and understand the frameworks involved in shaping cultural policy. Participation in ALI is open to U.S. and Puerto Rico-based artists, arts administrators, and cultural workers. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the NALAC website to view the eligibility requirements and learn more about the ALI program. For more, NALAC's ALI is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, MacKenzie Scott, National Endowment for the Arts, and the San Antonio Area Foundation. Visit the ALI program page for eligibility and deadline details and to apply.
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is the nation’s premier nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of the Latino arts field. For more information about NALAC and its programs please visit www.nalac.org.

Jason Rapp

NEA Big Read grants support community reading programs

$5,000 to $20,000 in matching grants available

INTENT TO APPLY DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Applications are now open for NEA Big Read grants to support programming in 2023/2024.

An initiative of the NEA in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read supports community reading programs each designed around a single NEA Big Read book selection with the goal of inspiring meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community. Matching grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 each!
For their project, applicants will choose one of 15 books representing a diverse range of contemporary themes, voices, and perspectives. More information on the books and authors, as well as discussion questions and videos, are available at arts.gov/neabigread. The NEA Big Read welcomes applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and organizations with small, medium or large operating budgets. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:
  • Arts centers, arts councils, and arts organizations
  • Colleges and universities
  • Libraries and literary centers
  • Community service organizations, environmental organizations, and faith-based organizations
  • Museums and historical societies
  • School districts and local education agencies
  • Tribal governments and non-profits
Applicant organizations will collaborate with a broad range of partners—including a community library if the applicant itself is not a library—to offer events and activities that engage the whole community. The Intent to Apply deadline is Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Click here to learn more!

Jason Rapp

U.S. celebrating National Arts and Humanities Month

White House announces new executive order

Welcome to October, which is National Arts and Humanities Month!

Late last week, President Biden issued a proclamation designating October 2022 as National Arts and Humanities Month in celebration of the significance of the arts, humanities, and museum and library services to our nation. The Proclamation includes the announcement of a new Executive Order which seeks to integrate the arts, humanities, and museum and library services into policies, programs, and partnerships throughout the Federal government to tackle the greatest challenges of our time. It also includes a directive to reestablish the President’s Committee for the Arts and the Humanities, which is planned for the coming months. This year the nation’s cultural agencies—the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH)—are joining to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month. "We take inspiration from the contributions of artists, historians, authors, entertainers, designers, philosophers, curators, scholars, filmmakers, archivists, librarians, administrators, and others who make up our creative sector and document and preserve our history. Their efforts help lift up new voices and shine a light on previously untold stories," the three agencies' leaders said in a joint statement. "Artists and thinkers enrich our experiences by encouraging us to live artful lives, find and create pathways to connection and empathy, improve our well-being, and create and maintain the balance and beauty of the world around us."
For more updates, please follow along on social platforms for the three cultural agencies above, and share your contributions using the hashtag #NAHM22.
Image by Paul Stachowiak from Pixabay

Jason Rapp

One ‘Big Read’ grant from NEA awarded to S.C. community

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest, announced support yesterday for 62 nonprofit organizations to hold NEA Big Read programming in 2022/2023.

In total, the NEA is investing $1,071,140 to support programming centered around one of 15 different contemporary books, with the aim of inspiring meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in participating communities. MOJA Arts Festival in Charleston will receive a $17,500 grant to bring the book Homegoing to its community. Homegoing is a "novel about the legacy of chattel slavery by African-born writer Yaa Gyasi spanning eight generations." It shows the parallel lives of two 18th-century Ghana-born half-sisters and follows their descendants through historical periods such as the American Civil War and the great Harlem Jazz Age. “It is inspiring to see how NEA Big Read grantees utilize these books as launchpads for their own programming, often creating opportunities for community conversations, new partnerships, and encouraging participants to incorporate art into their daily lives,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “All across America, in communities small and large, the NEA Big Read connects neighbors and inspires creativity,” said Torrie Allen, president & CEO of Arts Midwest. “We're excited to support this year’s grantees as they bring the pages of these wonderful books to life through inventive programming.” Each NEA Big Read grantee is receiving a matching grant ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support programming around one of 15 contemporary books, 12 of which are new for the 2022/2023 NEA Big Read. Examples of 2022/2023 grantee programming include:
  • Arts Connection’s (San Bernardino, California) programming around Tommy Orange’s There, There will include guided tours hosted by the Native American Land Conservancy of the Oasis of Maará, first settled by the Serrano people and later the Chemehuevi. Cultural resource tribal representatives will share the historical significance of the site and discuss its present-day and continued vibrancy and relevance.
  • Delta State University’s (Cleveland, Mississippi) programming around Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing will include a scheduled presentation by culinary historian Adrian Miller about Black culinary history and a conversation about the culinary traditions, knowledge, and goods enslaved Africans brought to the United States and their rich culinary contributions.
  • Eastern Connecticut State University’s (Willimantic, Connecticut) programming around Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown will include an online virtual exhibition with creative responses (visual arts, graphic design, new media, and literary texts) to the book’s study of stereotypes.
  • Maryland Public Television’s (Owings Mills, Maryland) programming around Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, will hold a ten-day challenge of gratitude. Participants will be encouraged to reflect and look for elements of challenging experiences that will help them experience gratitude.
  • Quincy Public Library’s (Quincy, Illinois) programming around Rebecca Taussig’s Sitting Pretty will include events for patrons to learn more about and participate in adaptive sports and learn conversational/basic American Sign Language. Library programming will be adapted to meet a wider range of our communities' needs through sensory-friendly story times and resource kits to provide additional support to community members who would like to experience the library and the NEA Big Read.
  • Wichita Public Library Foundation (Wichita, Kansas) will kick off its programming around Roz Chast’s Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? with a community event featuring a photo slideshow, The Beauty of Aging, with images submitted by community members depicting their family and friends in the later stages of life.

About the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, a partnership with Arts Midwest, broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,700 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $24 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 16 years, grantees have leveraged more than $56 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 5.9 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 97,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. Visit arts.gov/neabigread for more information about the NEA Big Read. Organizations interested in applying for an NEA Big Read grant in the future should visit Arts Midwest’s website for more information.
  • Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the U.S. Visit arts.gov to learn more.
  • Arts Midwest believes that creativity has the power to inspire and unite humanity. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest grows, gathers, and invests in creative organizations and communities throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 30 years. For more information, visit artsmidwest.org.
 

Jason Rapp

NEA, S.C. Arts Commission renew ties with major partnership grant

NEA funding critical to SCAC's service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced more than $91 million in a second phase of recommended grants to organizations in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions.

Grants are in three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnerships. The South Carolina Arts Commission is the recipient of a partnership grant of $953,600, which will be added to appropriations from the state general assembly to serve South Carolina citizens. "Federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts is critical to the South Carolina Arts Commission's work. It allows us to fund arts projects that better serve constituents in South Carolina. We appreciate investments in our state's arts industry by the NEA and our state lawmakers," SCAC Executive Director David Platts said. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation with these grants, providing opportunities for all of us to live artful lives,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies. The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.”
State and Regional Partnerships Each year, 40 percent of the agency’s grantmaking funds are designated for state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, and national service organizations that support the work of the states and regions. A total of $60.58 million is recommended for these partners in FY 2022, with $49 million of that total designated for SAAs. Each SAA and RAO matches its NEA funding on at least a 1:1 basis. The Partnership Agreements for the state arts agencies extend the NEA’s reach to even more communities. Using state funds in combination with NEA Partnership funding, state arts agencies support approximately 23,000 projects and organizations in over 5,500 communities.
About the National Endowment for the Arts Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more.
About the South Carolina Arts Commission The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences. A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in four areas: arts learning, community and traditional arts, artist development, and arts industry. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @scartscomm on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for #Arts4SC and #SCartists content.
South Carolina Arts Commission News Release, Media Contact: Jason L. Rapp, Communications Director. jrapp@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8899

Jason Rapp

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