Providence, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline cheered $125,000 in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding for Rhode Island arts organizations. The NEA grants will help the groups pursue arts research, bring dance and theater productions to the stage, and promote the arts among Rhode Island youth.
“I am pleased that Rhode Island arts organizations have been selected to receive these federal grants to help boost education through the arts and cultural engagement,” said Senator Jack Reed.
“Our artistic community is an economic engine and part of what makes Rhode Island such a great place to live,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who led a workshop in July to assist Rhode Islanders interested in applying for NEA funding. “This funding will help some of our leading arts groups strengthen that community by introducing talented young people to the arts and putting on first-rate productions.”
“Rhode Island is home to rich cultural experiences and a truly vibrant arts scene. This is thanks, in large part, to a strong pipeline of young talent, cultivated by these organizations that invest so much time and resources into developing our next generation of artists and creators,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “Congratulations to the grant award winners, and thank you for your commitment to fostering the arts in our state.”
“This $125,000 grant will provide critical resources to help promote economic development here in Rhode Island and support our state’s thriving arts community,” said Congressman David Cicilline. “I’m especially pleased that this funding will help make the arts accessible for young Rhode Islanders and encourage a deeper appreciation of the arts for the next generation.”
Recipients include:
The Alliance of Artists Communities in Providence, to support arts research;
Everett Dance in Providence, to support the touring of a multimedia physical theater piece exploring mass incarceration in America;
New Urban Arts in Providence, to support the Youth Mentorship in the Arts program and the Summer Art Inquiry program for teens;
Providence City Arts for Youth, Inc. in Providence, to support art classes and mentorships for youth;
Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, to support a production of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” based on the novel by Harper Lee, and adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel.
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