Park Square Theatre Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced today that Park Square Theatre is one of 817 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Park Square is recommended for a $10,000 grant to support the Theatre Ambassadors program.

Park Square's Education Director Mary Finnerty started Theatre Ambassadors for students who are theatre lovers and want to explore it as a profession. They are taught classes by master teachers, meet and talk with professional theatre artists and bring theatre workshops into their communities. Finnerty envisioned the program in 1998, but special funds to underwrite the effort were not available. In 2011, Park Square received a Minnesota Arts and Culture LegaCy Grant to pilot the project, which continued thanks to special support from the Harlan Boss Foundation.

NEA's Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable opportunities for the public to engage with the arts."

"It has been a dream come true to offer this exceptional arts leadership experience to Juniors and Seniors who are so passionate about theatre," said Finnerty. Students who are interested in applying for the program should call 651-291-9196 and ask for application materials.

In August 2012, the NEA received 1,547 eligible applications for Art Works grants requesting more than $80 million in funding. 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 the strengthening of communities through the arts. The 817 recommended NEA grants total $26.3 million and span 13 artistic disciplines and fields. Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.