Fourteen North Texas arts organizations received National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant money this year. The NEA awarded North Texas arts organizations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, and Plano a total of $400,000.
More than $27 million of grants were awarded this year to organizations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. There are three categories for NEA grants. “Art Works” awards the most grant money and is NEA’s biggest grant program. Thirteen of the North Texas arts organizations received their money through Art Works. The maximum amount an organization can receive through Art Works is $100,000.
Dallas’ Big Thought received a grant for $100,000. Big Thought serves under-resourced kids. Its mission is “to make imagination a part of everyday learning.” They work to address the opportunity gap- a 6,000 hour learning gap- and offer accessible education programs. Big Thought designs curriculum, consults for cities, and contributes to national dialogue on the opportunity gap by attending conferences and workshops.
Plano’s Chamberlain Ballet received a grant through NEA’s second grant category “Challenge America,” which awards grants to small- and mid-sized projects for underserved populations. Those underserved “are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability,” according to the NEA announcement. Challenge America awards 138 grants of $10,000. Chamberlain’s grant was for their 2019 community performance of “The Nutcracker.”
“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” said NEA chairwoman Mary Anne Carter.
Texas International Theatrical Arts Society (TITAS Presents) received $15,000 through Art Works. A season of TITAS Presents performances generally reaches 25,000 North Texans, according to TITAS.
Executive and artistic director Charles Santos said TITAS is honored to receive this money.
“TITAS celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our North Texas communities by bringing dance companies from around the world to Dallas. We are committed to raising the profile of Dallas as a cultural destination that honors the arts and celebrates the diversity,” Santos said.
LIST OF NORTH TEXAS RECIPIENTS
Big Thought (aka (formerly Young Audiences of Greater Dallas))
$100,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Arts Education
To support Dallas City of Learning (DCOL), a collective impact project
buildingcommunityWORKSHOP (aka bcWORKSHOP)
$25,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Design
To support a design and public space programming project to activate underutilized Browder Plaza in downtown Dallas.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
$15,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Dance
To support the Cultural Awareness dance performance series.
Dallas Museum of Art (aka DMA)
$55,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Museums
To support a traveling exhibition highlighting artist Berthe Morisot’s role as an essential figure within the Impressionist movement.
Dallas Opera
$40,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Opera
To support the world premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Composer Joby Talbot and Librettist Gene Scheer with related community engagement programming.
Dallas Symphony Association, Inc. (aka Dallas Symphony Orchestra)
$20,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Music
To support ReMix, a concert series
Dallas Theater Center
$25,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Theater
To support a production of penny candy – a confection by Dallas playwright Jonathan Norton.
Nasher Sculpture Center
$25,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Museums
To support the traveling exhibition Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life and an accompanying catalogue.
Texas International Theatrical Arts Society (aka TITAS Presents)
$15,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Dance
To support the presentation of Dorrance Dance and related education and engagement activities.
Video Association of Dallas, Inc. (aka Dallas VideoFest)
$10,000 Dallas, TX
Art Works — Media Arts
To support VideoFest 32 and associated public programming dedicated to promoting an understanding of video as a creative visual arts medium and cultural connector.
Van Cliburn Foundation, Inc. (aka The Cliburn)
$10,000 Fort Worth, TX
Art Works — Music
To support the Second Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival in Dallas, Texas.
Kimbell Art Foundation (aka Kimbell Art Museum)
$30,000 Fort Worth, TX
Art Works — Museums
To support the exhibition The Lure of Dresden: Bellotto at the Court of Saxony at the Kimbell Art Museum.
Chamberlain Ballet (aka Chamberlain Performing Arts)
$10,000 Plano, TX
Challenge America
To support a community performance of The Nutcracker.
Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts & Culture
$20,000 Wichita Falls, TX
Art Works — Local Arts Agencies
To support an initiative to expand training opportunities for arts managers in rural communities in North Central Texas.
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