DTC Awarded NEA Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced yesterday that Dallas Theater Center is one of 886 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. DTC is recommended for a $15,000 grant to support The Neighborhood Initiative.

The Neighborhood Initiative is a three-year pilot project in which DTC will develop a comprehensive customized approach to creating authentic relationships in two targeted and currently underserved communities. The project will select two neighborhoods with low participation in DTC programming-one urban and one suburban-and, over the course of three years, develop educational, artistic, marketing and development programming in and for those communities. Project activities will be tracked, measured and evaluated, in partnership with the National Center for Arts Research (NCAR) at SMU, and findings will be shared with local and national arts organizations.

NEA Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, "The NEA is pleased to announce that Dallas Theater Center is recommended for an NEA Art Works grant. These NEA-supported projects will not only have a positive impact on local economies, but will also provide opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the arts, help our communities to become more vibrant, and support our nation's artists as they contribute to our cultural landscape."

"DTC's mission is rooted in the belief that we are stronger as a community when we gather to hear stories and engage in conversations about how we live our lives. These conversations become much more powerful when they represent a true reflection of the diverse community we serve," said DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. "I am profoundly grateful to the NEA for this opportunity to work with two geographically, culturally, and socio-economically distinct neighborhoods."

Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts. The NEA received 1,515 eligible applications under the Art Works category, requesting more than $76 million in funding. Of those applications, 886 are recommended for grants for a total of $25.8 million.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.