Creede Rep Theatre Awarded NEA Grant for 2013 Young Audience Outreach Tour

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced today that Creede Repertory Theatre (CRT) is one of 153 not-for-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Challenge America Fast-Track grant. CRT is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support the 2013 Young Audience Outreach Tour. Working alongside Tony Garcia and Daniel Valdez of Denver's nationally acclaimed theatre company Su Teatro, the 2013 Tour will bring excellent theatre to over 19,000 children from rural and underserved schools throughout the Southwest.

In this FY 2013 funding round, the NEA received 393 eligible Challenge America Fast-Track applications, requesting a total of $3,930,000. The NEA will award 153 Challenge America Fast-Track grants totaling $1.53 million awarded to organizations in 41 states, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These include 49 first-time Arts Endowment grantees. The Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

"The NEA was founded on the principle that the arts belong to all the people of the United States," said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. "We're proud that Challenge America Fast-Track grants bring more opportunities for arts engagement to underserved communities."

Renee Stynchula, CRT's Education Director, shared, "This Fall marks the 30th year of CRT's Young Audience Outreach Program and the third year of NEA funding. During this time of budget cuts for schools, the NEA's support helps us reach thousands of children who would otherwise not experience live theatre. And the opportunity to share Su Teatro's exceptional work with our young audience members makes this award that much more meaningful. This year's play will be a true celebration of the rich heritage of the people, landscapes, and languages of the Southwest!"

See the complete listing of projects recommended for Challenge America Fast-Track grant support at www.arts.gov.

Visit www.creederep.org for more information about CRT. To book a 2013 Outreach Tour performance, contact Renee Stynchula at 719-658-2540x227 or renee@creederep.com.

Pictured: Andy Brown and Mary McNulty. Photo by John Gary Brown.