Pasadena Playhouse Receives Recovery Grant Award From National Endowment For the Arts

The Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center College of Design, the Pasadena Playhouse and the Pasadena Arts Council have received news that they will be recipients of major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law on February 17, 2009. The funding is to support the preservation of jobs that are threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn.

Of 631 arts agencies to receive this funding nationally, 99 California-based organizations have been designated as recipients, and four in Pasadena. The Armory Center for the Arts will receive $50,000 in the Visual Arts category; Art Center College of Design will receive $50,000 in the Design category; Pasadena Playhouse will receive $50,000 for Theater, and Pasadena Arts Council will receive $25,000 in the Local Arts Agencies category.

"I am so pleased that the Pasadena Playhouse is among the esteemed arts institutions that have been chosen for this special recognition and support from the NEA," notes Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. "Beyond the much-appreciated financial assistance that this grant brings our way, it also recognizes the vitality of the work that is on our stage as well as all of the programs that we do to serve our community. This is an exciting time for The Playhouse because of the strength of our programming, as well as the wonderful addition of Stephen Eich to our staff as Executive Director. The NEA grants are one of the sure signs that the arts in Pasadena are being recognized and rewarded for all of our achievements."

For media queries about the NEA Recovery grants, visit www.nea.gov/recovery, contact Victoria Hutter at 202-682-5692 or hutterv@arts.gov.

The Pasadena Arts Council is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization formed in 1964 to provide resources, programs and services to artists, arts and cultural organizations, audiences, young people and visitors to Pasadena. The agency provides an independent voice for promoting a vibrant cultural community by facilitating, empowering and advocating for the arts. For more information about PAC, call 626-793-8171 or visit www.pasadenaartscouncil.org.