National Endowment for the Arts Announces Challenge America Grants

First grant announcement of FY 2006

December 1 , 2005

		Contact: Victoria Hutter, NEA 202-682-5692 hutterv@arts.gov

Washington, D.C. - The National Endowment for the Arts announces grant awards totaling $1,350,000 through the Challenge America: Reaching Every Community program. Bringing the arts to all Americans is a significant part of the NEA's mission. Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast Track Review is integral to that effort through its funding of projects that can have significant effects within their community because of the breadth of audiences and participants those project include.

One hundred and thirty-five grants of $10,000 each will be given to primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations - those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Many projects emphasize the potential of the arts to help strengthen communities. In addition, projects often feature partnerships between arts organizations and other cultural, educational, or civic organizations.

National Endowment for the Arts Deputy Director Tony Chauveaux said, “Bringing the arts to people who have not had many opportunities to experience the arts is key to the NEA's work. Challenge America: Reaching Every Community with its expedited review process is an integral part of that effort, supporting projects of artistic excellence for underserved audiences."

Some of this year's Challenge America: Reaching Every Community projects are:

Whitefish Theatre Company, Whitefish, MT
To support performances by the Harlem Gospel Choir. The project will offer a public performance and one free concert for senior citizens.

Goldwell Open Air Museum, Las Vegas, NV
To support an architectural feasibility study for the renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historic structures, and planning for the conservation of murals. This project is the first step in the development of a new artists' community in Death Valley Junction.

Iowa Trails Council, Center Point, IA
To support the design and installation of public art on the Cedar View Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail Bridges. Working with the community, artist Judy Bales will incorporate local railroad history and frame views of the natural environment with trail enhancements such as mosaic gateways, steel sculpture, and concrete etching.

Please see the complete listing of Challenge America Fast-Track grants.

For more information, contact the NEA Office of Communication at 202-682-5570.

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