Twenty-nine Ohio recipients have been awarded grants through the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Art Works, Challenge America, and Creative Writing Fellowship programs.
A Delaware County non-profit has been a recipient of such a grant.
Through Art Works and Challenge America, $540,000 has been awarded to 28 nonprofit arts organizations throughout the state. Additionally, Hugh Martin of Athens, Ohio, was awarded a $25,000 Creative Writing Fellowship. Martin was one of just 35 individuals chosen for this fellowship and is a first-time recipient of this award.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is a valued partner in supporting the work of Ohio’s artistic and creative leaders,” said Ohio Arts Council Executive Director Donna S. Collins. “Every day, these 29 grantees from around the state are engaging audiences and inspiring others through meaningful and impactful arts experiences. We are grateful for the National Endowment for the Arts’ support of the arts in Ohio.”
More than $27 million in grants were awarded in total during this first round of funding announcements, with recipients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works grants support “artistically excellent projects that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity.” It is their largest funding category. These matching grants typically range from $10,000 to $100,000.
For federal FY 2019, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded 972 Art Works grants totaling more than $25 million.
Challenge America grants support 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,” according to the National Endowment for the Arts. Each grant is $10,000.
This year, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded 138 Challenge America grants totaling $1.38 million.
Among recipients is the Central Ohio Symphony in Delaware, which received $10,000 to support a concert performance including a world premiere film screening and score, and related outreach activities.
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, Creative Writing Fellowships in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction “enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement.” Each grant is $25,000, providing direct support to creative writers.
This year, 35 Creative Writing Fellowships were awarded totaling $875,000.
For more information about the National Endowment for the Arts’ grant programs, visit arts.gov.
