Congresswoman Matsui Announces $122,500 in Federal Grants for Sacramento Arts Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Announces $122,500 in Federal Grants for Sacramento Arts CommunityToday, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that six Sacramento organizations will receive over $120,000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These awards will support the creation and presentation of either new or established artistic projects in the Sacramento area. Approved projects range from performances and exhibitions to commissions and training programs.
"Sacramento is a special community, which enjoys the benefits of our local artists and it is important that we promote their talents," said Rep. Matsui. "I hope that the awards announced today will spur the next generation of artists in our children and illustrate to Sacramentans the variety of life we enjoy here. All of these projects are investments in the cultural heritage of Sacramento, California, and our Nation."
One of the largest Sacramento awards went to the Crocker Art Museum Association, who received $25,000 to support their touring exhibit "A Pioneering Collection: Master Drawings from the Crocker Art Museum." The exhibit will showcase one of the earliest private collections in American history: over 50 European master drawings collected within twenty years of California's statehood by a railroad magnate. The Association of California Symphony Orchestras also received a large award of $27, 500 in order to support orchestras across the state.
Three of the awarded organizations will receive grants from the Challenge America Fast Track grant program. The Challenge America Fast Track program awards $10,000 matching grants to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations, including those whose arts experiences are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. For instance, the Developmental Disabilities Services' grant will support the writing and production of the original play, "Tent City," which explores homelessness in Sacramento. St. HOPE Academy's grant will go towards "Beyond the Hoop," an exhibit of contemporary African American art from former NBA player Elliot Perry's own collection.
All of today's awards will allow arts to reach and inspire new groups of people, while also creating jobs and helping the Sacramento economy. According to NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, each dollar awarded through National Endowment for the Arts grants generates approximately seven dollars from non-federal sources. The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an agency of the federal government dedicated to supporting the arts and arts education, and is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts. Congresswoman Matsui supported the Federal Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010 which authorized this year's grants.
Today's National Endowment for the Arts grant awards included the following Sacramento organizations:
Association of California Symphony Orchestras - $27,500
To support professional and leadership development and technical assistance programs for California orchestras.
Crocker Art Museum Association Museum - $25,000
To support the touring exhibition A Pioneering Collection: Master Drawings from the Crocker Art Museum.
California Presenters - $20,000
To support a touring program: Don't Fence Me In: Songs, Music, and Poetry of the American West.
Developmental Disabilities Service Organization, Inc. Challenge America Fast-Track Review - $10,000
To support the writing and production of Tent City, an original script exploring homelessness in Sacramento.
La Raza Galeria Posada - $10,000
To support a performance by bolero musicians Trio Los Panchos.
Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra Association, Inc. - $10,000
To support a community performance project featuring works by Chevalier de Saint Georges, Pastor Alonzo Morris, William Grant Still, Sergei Prokofiev, and George Gershwin.
St. HOPE Academy - $10,000
To support Beyond the Hoop, an exhibit featuring contemporary African American art from the collection of Elliot Perry.
University Enterprises Inc. - $10,000
To support the Festival of New American Music.
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